YORKSHIRE Phoenix maintained their strong push for promotion in the totesport League by gaining a comfortable victory by 60 runs over Scottish Saltires at Headingley yesterday to record their fourth win from five matches.

Although Saltires were well-beaten in the end, Yorkshire were forced to treat them with respect following their shock win over Warwickshire the previous day but they never looked like repeating that result.

The large Bank Holiday crowd were quite happy that Scotland's star performer should be former Yorkshire favourite Gavin Hamilton, who emerged as the top scorer of the match with a well-struck 60 off 74 balls with six fours.

Hamilton, who plays Bradford League cricket for East Bierley, is on loan from Durham for six matches, and although he does not bowl these days because of a recurrence of the problem which earlier blighted his career, he remains a more than useful batsman.

The only time that Yorkshire were in any difficulties was right at the start of the match when they dipped to 15-2 after being put in to bat but they quickly recovered to finish on a respectable 214.

Paul Hoffmann and Yasir Arafat, Scotland's opening pair of bowlers, impressed with swing and movement off the pitch and Matthew Wood was out to a beauty from Hoffmann which nipped away off a length to have him caught behind.

Ian Harvey departed in the next over, dragging Arafat to mid-on, but the left-handed combination of Phil Jaques and Michael Lumb soon took control with some classy strokes.

Lumb was looking in particularly good form but after 69 had been added in 15 overs he was run out just when appearing well set.

Two crisp off-drives by Jaques took him to 48 but he missed out on his half-century because he went down on one knee to try to hit Ryan Watson over mid-wicket and was bowled after facing 54 deliveries and striking seven boundaries.

Craig White drove his first ball for four and also smacked two legside sixes on his way to 39 but Yorkshire's biggest innings came from Anthony McGrath.

McGrath had his fortunate moments, being badly dropped at mid-off when 26 and off a skier later in his innings, but when he eventually holed out to long on he had knocked up 57 from 69 balls.

Yorkshire lost wickets, their last two to run outs, as they helped themselves to 75 off the last ten overs, but it was a commendable effort by Saltires' bowlers.

Saltires were pegged back at the start of their reply by accurate bowling from Deon Kruis who accounted for openers Douglas Lockhart and Fraser Watts. The South African bowled nine consecutive overs in which he gave away only 15 runs for his two wickets.

With the rest of Yorkshire's attack maintaining a tight grip the task became much too difficult for Saltires.

Hamilton was bowled taking a wild swing at White who came on late in the innings to clean up with three wickets to take his tally this season 13 at under ten runs apiece.

Updated: 09:50 Tuesday, May 31, 2005