Twenty20 is widely seen as a batsman’s game, but Yorkshire seamer Steve Patterson believes it is helping him become a better bowler in all forms.

The 26-year-old has broken into the White Rose county’s first team this year on a regular basis for the first time in his career.

The likes of Adam Lyth, Jonny Bairstow and Adil Rashid have taken most of the credit for Yorkshire’s success this summer, but Patterson has been happy to quietly go about his business.

He is the county’s leading wicket taker with 11 wickets from four Clydesdale Bank 40 matches. He has taken 12 wickets from 13 T20 matches – and has also taken 26 Championship scalps from eight fixtures.

“Twenty20 is so hit and miss,” he said.

“Some days you can get two or three wickets for nothing, next day you can go at ten an over.

“It’s a case of putting balls in the right areas and making them (the batsmen) play good shots. If they play good shots, then fair enough.”

If a bowler can master a certain variation in Twenty20, surely it can be used to his advantage in any format – whether it be in regular one-day cricket or in the four-day arena.

Patterson, who should line up against Warwickshire in a must-win Friends Provident Twenty20 match at Edgbaston tomorrow night, agrees.

He continued: “It makes you think about the game more. There is a massive contrast between Twenty20 and Championship cricket, but the skills you learn are very useful in all forms.

“I definitely think that Twenty20 will improve my one-day game, that is for sure.

“If you can bowl in Twenty20 cricket, you should be able to bowl in any form of one-day cricket.”

Patterson had an off night against Lancashire at Old Trafford on Friday, Yorkshire’s last 20-over fixture.

He failed to repeat the four wicket haul he picked up against them at Headingley, and was taken to task by Stephen Moore with the new ball.

Captain Andrew Gale is targeting three wins from their last three North Division matches to secure Yorkshire’s place in the last eight – his side also plays Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on Saturday and Derbyshire at the County Ground on Sunday.

But, if other results go their way, it may be that they are in the hat for the quarter-final draw with two wins. If that is the case, one of them must come against Derbyshire, who are currently above them in the table.

Ajmal Shahzad may play a part for the county after England completed their one-day international series against Bangladesh yesterday.

If he shrugs off a slight hamstring injury he will be available for all three matches, but Tim Bresnan will not.

Shahzad’s availability would be a boost for Gale, who said: “The first six overs we haven’t been great in the competition throughout. “The likes of Steve Patterson and Rich Pyrah haven’t bowled a lot in the first six overs in Twenty20 cricket, but you’ve got to learn fast in this format.”