YORKSHIRE brushed a powerful looking Nottinghamshire team aside to get their Royal London one-day Cup campaign off to an impressive start at Trent Bridge today, with England Test captain Joe Root hitting 75 not out.
The Vikings looked every bit title challengers in this competition during a seven-wicket win, even if they will lose five players to England duty after their next two matches.
They bowled Notts out for just 185 inside 41 after electing to bowl, including just six for Root’s brother, Billy.
Tim Bresnan claimed 3-22 from seven overs for the White Rose county, while David Willey’s 2-37 from 7.5 included Stuart Broad as his 100th List A career victim.
Yorkshire easily chased down their target for the loss of three wickets with more than, with Peter Handscomb also adding 45 as the win was secured with 17.2 overs remaining.
Joe even hit his brother Billy for six to finish the job off and move to his highest one-day score for Yorkshire, sharing 92 for the third wicket with Handscomb.
“We were very clinical throughout the whole day,” said Root. “We set the tone straightaway.
“The seamers did a great job. Then we continued to take wickets through the middle period, which these days seems to be quite a difficult thing to do in one-day cricket.
"Once we got off to a good start (with the bat), the hard work was done. It was just about being ruthless and seeing it through.
“That partnership between me and Pete pretty much broke the back of it. It was a good performance.”
Each member of Yorkshire’s six-man attack struck at least once, including 1-35 from 10 overs for the excellent Liam Plunkett, who returned from injury to play his first match of the season.
Although Yorkshire always looked in control of things with the ball, they were helped out by Notts, who lost their last seven wickets for 49 amidst a loose display in good batting conditions.
Six batsmen picked put fielders either in the ring or in the deep, while Australian overseas bowler James Pattinson ran himself out.
Pattinson conceded three fours in the first four balls of the innings to Adam Lyth, who made 35 before he holed out to deep square-leg off Jake Ball.
That left Yorkshire at 76-2 after 12 overs, with Jonny Bairstow earlier lbw to Broad’s first ball for 19.
Root settled quickly at the crease, on-driving Broad for four after the Bairstow dismissal.
He faced brother Billy’s off-spinners for a couple of overs during his routine third-wicket 18-over stand with Handscomb, who fell with only 18 runs needed to win.
Root’s fifty came off 63 balls, and he finished having hit seven fours and a six.
On the battle with his brother, Root added: "It was awful. It's such a horrible situation to be in.
“Obviously I'm desperate for him to do well and get settled in this (Notts) side. But you've got to be professional at the end of the day and get the job done.
“There was a slight feeling of guilt towards the end there, but that's professional sport.
“I'm sure he'd have done exactly the same and more if I'd come on to bowl at him.”
Yorkshire face Roses rivals Lancashire at Headingley on Monday in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
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