Yorkshire Cricket by David Warner

Yorkshire captain David Byas showed great coolness under pressure to guide Yorkshire to a six wicket win over Durham at Riverside yesterday which maintained their strong challenge for the AXA League title.

Opening the innings for the first time this season, Byas was unbeaten at the end with a battling 79 as Yorkshire reached their 181 target with just five balls to spare.

Yorkshire appeared to be cruising it during a second wicket stand of 94 between Byas and Darren Lehmann, but once the Australian was out for a nimble 52, Durham's bowlers applied an effective break.

Anthony McGrath and Bradley Parker both got out to tame shots and if Byas had not then survived a stumping chance to Martin Speight on 59, Yorkshire would have been in big trouble.

The game still seemed to be slipping away from them at 140 for four in 35 overs with 41 still required but Richard Blakey gave excellent support to Byas who relieved pressure with a firm four over mid-wicket off Martin Saggers.

It was the 37th over with 23 required that proved to be the turning point, however, for after Neil Killeen had given away two singles and a wide he was thumped high over mid-wicket for six by Byas.

Then Blakey saw his straight drive at Melvyn Betts slip through Saggers' fingers on the boundary edge and go for four and his boundary off Killeen in the final over ended the match, the unbroken fifth wicket stand bringing 47 off the last six overs.

Byas's solid innings lasted for 102 balls and he struck six fours and a six to make sure Yorkshire maintained their record of winning every one-day match away from home this season.

Lehmann, back to full fitness, played some elegant shots in a faultless 52 off 62 deliveries with three fours but he got out checking a drive at Paul Collingwood to give Mike Roseberry an easy catch at short extra cover.

Lehmann also made an important contribution with the ball, his left arm spin bringing one wicket at a cost of 33 runs.

He bowled in tandem with Richard Stemp who pegged back Durham even more tightly, giving away only 19 runs while capturing the valuable early wickets of Nick Speak and skipper David Boon, who both had their stumps hit.

When opener Roseberry was caught and bowled by Lehmann for 22, Durham were struggling at 60 for four but they were taken to a reasonable score by Jon Lewis ,who knocked up 61 from 75 deliveries with three boundaries before being run out off the last ball of the innings.

Chris Silverwood, on his return from 12th man duties at the Lord's Test, was the least tidy of Yorkshire's four pacemen.

Yorkshire chief executive Chris Hassell has paid tribute to Alec Lodge, one of the best known cricket personalities in the county, who has died aged 83.

A vice-president of Yorkshire, Mr Lodge was also a vice-president of the Huddersfield Cricket League after being president for many years. He was a founder member of the Joe Lumb Competition.

Hassell commented: "Alec was one of the most wonderful guys I have met. His death has robbed Yorkshire cricket of one of its most enthusiastic workers."

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