Yorkshire narrowly missed out on a record chase of 351 against Worcestershire Rapids and lost their second successive Royal London one-day Cup home match at Emerald Headingley in thrilling fashion.
The Vikings, who failed to hit six off the last ball with one wicket remaining, face champions Nottinghamshire here on Friday having won one from their first three North Group matches.
A high-scoring contest saw former Yorkshire overseas Travis Head score top-score with 77 as one of four half-centurions for the visitors, who made 350-6.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore helped get Yorkshire’s chase off to an impressive start with 89 off 85 balls against his former county, sharing 72 for the first wicket with Adam Lyth and 101 for the second with centurion Che Pujara to take the score to 173-1 in the 30th over.
Unfortunately, however, the hosts were left with too much to do after he departed, despite some exhilarating lower order hitting, and finished on 346 for nine. Andrew Hodd faced the last ball, while Pujara made 101 off 94 balls. They lost by four runs.
Left-handed Ross Whiteley smashed a late unbeaten 66 as 122 runs came off the last 10 overs for Worcester, who ensured Yorkshire conceded their second highest List A total having been invited to bat.
Despite getting Australian Head superbly caught and bowled and running out Joe Clarke (61) backing up, Adil Rashid return 2-86 from his 10 overs – his most expensive figures in List A cricket.
They were also Yorkshire’s second most expensive individual figures ever.
Head and England hopeful Clarke shared a century stand for the second wicket following some early assistance for Yorkshire’s new ball seamers.
Whiteley and sixth-wicket partner Ben Cox (50) then really turned the game in the final stages of their innings with a blistering 110-run stand.
Kohler-Cadmore continued his excellent form at the start of this competition, as did Pujara, as Yorkshire’s chase started well.
After Kohler-Cadmore and Adam Lyth shared 72 inside 12 overs for the first wicket, Pujara joined the former to share 101 in 18 for the second.
But Kohler-Cadmore, who hit 164 against Durham on Friday, was caught at long-on off Brett D’Oliveira’s leg-spin in the 30th over.
When James Wainman, promoted to pinch hit, was caught behind two balls later, 173-1 became 173-3.
Pujara tried his best to keep Yorkshire in it, and just about did so.
They reached the 40-over mark at 240-4, needing 111 more.
Pujara reached his century off 92 balls following fifties against Durham and Warwickshire.
But wickets tumbled quickly in the search for quick runs.
When Pujara was caught at deep mid-wicket off Ed Barnard’s seamers having hit 10 fours and a six in 94 balls, Yorkshire were 258-6 in the 43rd.
From there, the likes of Tim Bresnan, Rashid and captain Steve Patterson contributed lower order runs, but it was all to no avail.
