YORKSHIRE got their Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy match against Dorset at Bournemouth done and dusted in quick order on Thursday.

They wanted to avoid further complications with the weather and a fiery blast with the new ball from Chris Silverwood made sure the Minor Counties' side did not hang about for long after they had been put in to bat.

Yorkshire had thought they would be visiting Grace Road in the third round on May 26 but now have to travel much farther afield after Devon tied with Leicestershire yesterday and went through because they still had a wicket left at the end after earlier bowling out their opponents.

In the space of 27 deliveries, Silverwood grabbed 4-12 to leave Dorset staggering on 26-4 and it was only some late order resistance which took them to 97 all out, Yorkshire speeding to victory by eight wickets.

Silverwood finished with his competition-best figures of 4-18 from ten overs to pick up the man-of-the-match gold award. More importantly, there was that extra bit of zip to his bowling missing from the season's first matches.

After Wednesday's complete blank, the match got started after a delay of only 25 minutes with both teams eager for action even though the umpires agreed the ground would have been unfit for a first class match.

Generating a good pace, Silverwood had Glyn Treagus caught behind by Simon Guy in his second over as the batsman attempted an ambitious drive and the same combination accounted for Neil Thurgood when he played a legside tickle too finely.

Silverwood then trapped Peter Deakin lbw pushing forward to give him three wickets in 14 balls at a cost of only one run which came from a wide and his fourth victim was Reg Keates, who fell to an athletic catch by Guy.

Left-hander Darren Cowley, son of Nigel, the first class umpire and ex-Hampshire all-rounder, briefly lifted home spirits by hooking Tim Bresnan for six but when Vic Craven came on for Silverwood he pinned Cowley lbw on the back foot with his fourth ball.

The slump continued as Tim Lamb edged John Blain low to first slip and Chris Park cut Craven straight into Matthew Wood's hands at point before Blain removed Martin Ford's off-stump to leave Dorset staggering on 56-8.

But Damien Worrad joined Ben Lawes in a stand of 35, the highest of the innings, and Worrad enjoyed a moment to remember by driving Darren Lehmannfor six.

The Australian soon gained his revenge by having Worrad taken on the boundary edge going for another big hit and he wrapped up the innings when Lawes drove gently to Craig White at mid-off.

White and Wood soon showed they meant business by adding 43 together in 11 overs before Worrad struck twice in an over, White losing his off-stump and pinch-hitter Silverwood miscuing to mid-off.

Even that rate of progress was slow compared to what followed as Wood laced into the bowling, striking Kidner for three consecutive boundaries with sweet drives and pulling Worrad for four to race to his 50 off 56 balls.

Treagus came into the attack and Wood lashed 14 off his first five balls to win the match for Yorkshire. His unbeaten 71 required just 58 deliveries and he slammed 11 boundaries.

Updated: 09:35 Friday, May 07, 2004