Although Yorkshire felt robbed of a good chance of victory when a violent storm swamped the outfield at Derby on Saturday and brought an abrupt end to their match with Derbyshire, they were able to breathe a sigh of relief when Leicestershire's game with Nottinghamshire was also washed out.

That result left Yorkshire's Benson and Hedges Cup fate in their own hands again.

If they beat bottom club Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge today then they are certain to qualify for the quarter-finals draw - and could even finish top of their group with the guarantee of a home tie.

That will happen if Durham win their match against Derbyshire at Riverside, so leapfrogging Yorkshire one point ahead of the current leaders.

All is not necessarily lost if Yorkshire are defeated and come in third, because in addition to the top two teams from each group qualifying so will the two teams finishing third with the higher number of points or the better run rate.

Yorkshire captain David Byas suffered an early double blow against Derbyhire when first he lost the toss and then his wicket after his side had been put in to bat in a match reduced to 40 over-a-side because of morning rain.

Byas nibbled at a ball outside off stump from Tim Munton and was caught at second slip by Dominic Cork.

Craig White and Richard Blakey soon made amends for the setback, however, with a splendid second wicket stand of 73 in 19 overs, all the more commendable because of a sharp attack and sluggish outfield.

White is showing enough consistency with both bat and ball in the early stages of the season to suggest he will make the England team for the first Test against Zimbabwe at Lord's starting on May 18, while Blakey has done everything that could be asked of him in his promotion to the No 3 spot.

He was equally as fluent as his partner and it came as something of a surprise when he was beaten off the pitch and bowled by Paul Aldred for 35 from 57 balls with four fours, the same number of boundaries that White managed in his unbeaten 40 off 61 deliveries.

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