Steve Patterson admitted his delight as Yorkshire finally came out on the right side of a thriller against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.
The Vikings maintained their hopes of knockout qualification with a second win in six Royal London one-day Cup North Group games, moving to six points.
They still have to win both of their remaining games against Worcestershire at New Road on Saturday and Durham at Emerald Headingley on Monday to have any chance of a top three finish.
But, after two ties and a one-run defeat to Lancashire, this was a huge shot in arm for the White Rose county, who won by five wickets on the Duckworth Lewis Stern method with two balls remaining.
Match highlights
The Vikings were initially set a mammoth 352 to win in 50 overs before rain arrived with them at 128-1 in the 21st.
A revised target of 175 in 25 overs was calculated, so a further 47 in 4.1 frenetic overs.
Yorkshire lost four wickets in that period, but Gary Ballance hit three successive sixes at the start of the penultimate over from Rob Keogh’s off-spin with 32 needed and finished with a crucial 28 off eleven balls in all.
Then, Jonny Tattersall hit all of 12 needed off Ian Holland in the last over, including a six and four, and finished 14 not out off five balls.
Earlier, Tom Kohler-Cadmore (67) and Harry Brook (47) shared 109 for the second wicket to boost the chase before falling upon the resumption.
Patterson said: ”We’ve had a few tight finishes, and we were starting to think that luck wasn’t on our side. But to come away with a win, it was a bit of a rollercoaster, but brilliant to get the two points.
“It was going to be a tough chase. It was a big total (352). But that was one of the best batting pitches we’ve played on this year with a fast outfield. We felt it was very gettable.
“We probably didn’t bowl at our best and fielded very poorly. We gave them a few too many runs.
“But at one stage in their innings, we were looking at chasing 400. So the fact we held our nerve, came back and took a few wickets, it restricted them and gave us a chance.
“With Tom and Brooky’s partnership, we were ahead when we came off for rain and in a good position. Then we go back out, and it’s a rollercoaster.
“But the lads held their nerve. Those three sixes from Gary really changed the momentum, and the way Jonny Tatts went in and finished it in that last over was wonderful.
“We knew we had to win all three coming into this. We have one of them out of the way.
“Confidence breeds confidence.
“The two points always make you feel better, especially after a couple of tight ones and a poor game at Nottingham. It gives us plenty of confidence going to Worcester on Saturday.”
