Yorkshire’s Clydesdale Bank 40 campaign is up and running thanks in the main to captain Andrew Gale’s well timed hundred against Kent at Canterbury yesterday.

After demanding one man to anchor the innings following poor batting displays during defeats against the Netherlands and Derbyshire, the 27-year-old did just that as his 112 off 114 balls underpinned their 254-7.

He was run out in the 38th over, but had hit 11 fours and two sixes. Joe Root also added 43, Gerard Brophy 28 and York’s Jonny Bairstow a quick-fire 26 off 19 balls from the top of the order.

Ryan Sidebottom then took two wickets with successive balls to put the skids under Kent in the early stages of their chase.

He had Sam Northeast caught behind by Brophy and Martin van Jaarsveld caught at third-man by David Wainwright to leave the score at 13-2 in the third. Kent never recovered.

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid finished with figures of 3-30 from eight overs and Tim Bresnan also struck twice on his return. Kent were bowled out for 161 inside 32 overs.

The only downside was a nasty looking right knee injury for Rich Pyrah, sustained while batting. He will have a scan today, but early indications are that he could be out for weeks rather than days.

Gale, who admitted his dismay at Pyrah’s misfortune, said: “We’re back in the race now. There’s no one in the group that frightens us if we keep playing like we did here.”

After winning the toss, Gale and Bairstow shared 40 in five overs for the first wicket. Bairstow cracked three fours and a six before being well caught at mid-off by Darren Stevens off the bowling of Adam Ball.

Gale hit sixes over mid-wicket off Matt Coles and over straight long-on in the first over bowled by James Tredwell.

Just before Root departed in the 28th over, with the score at 164-2, Yorkshire looked well set to post more than they did. But their total proved to be more than adequate.

On his own knock, his second one-day century after last year’s 125 not out at Essex, Gale said: “In the context of the game, this was a better knock. Last time I got the hundred, we knocked the runs off none down. Here, I had to hold the innings together and play a role I’m not as used to in one-day cricket.”

After Sidebottom’s early strikes, Bresnan got Rob Key and Geraint Jones, and Ajmal Shahzad, Wainwright and Root got one each.

But Rashid returned the stand-out figures. He bowled Stevens and had Coles stumped by Brophy, after he had Alex Blake caught behind with an outrageous long-hop.

Yorkshire, who drew with Notts at Trent Bridge on Saturday, face Hampshire at Headingley in the Championship on Wednesday.