Report: Durham v Yorkshire – Vitality Blast

North East rain prevented Yorkshire from chasing a crucial victory in the bid for Vitality Blast quarter-final qualification as only 8.1 overs were bowled in their clash with Durham at the Seat Unique Riverside this evening.

The Vikings took one point from their penultimate North Group fixture, meaning a top four-finish is now dependent on a win in their last match against Lancashire Lightning next Friday and other results going in their favour. 

They currently sit on 13 points from as many games – six wins, six defeats and this No Result – with their net run-rate inferior to that of all of their rivals.

When rain hit the ground just before 7pm – a couple of hours earlier than expected – Yorkshire were 49-1 from 8.1 overs, with captain Shan Masood unbeaten on a campaign best 35 from 27 balls with six fours and a six.

Umpires Steve O’Shaughnessy and Neil Pratt abandoned the match shortly after 8.40pm.

“One way to look at it is that we’ve scored more points today than we have in the last three games,” said Masood.

“It leaves us relying on other teams now. That’s never a great thing. You want your destiny and fate to be in your own hands. But that’s the way it goes. 

“Our job now is to play the Lancashire game like a quarter-final. Hopefully other results go our way.”

Durham employed three spinners on a slow pitch.

Adam Lyth was caught at mid-on trying to go over the top against Ben Raine’s seam for one nine balls into the contest, 1-1.

Run-scoring didn’t look easy, but Masood hit well down the ground and lofted an eye-catching six over long-off against Raine. The captain moved himself from number four to three in the order, with Will Fraine having come into the side in place of James Wharton.

Masood dominated a 48-run stand with Malan, who was unbeaten on eight. 

“You don’t really have to score the 200s or the 180s on that wicket,” said Masood. 

“It felt like one where you could give yourself a bit of time and get yourself in. The spinners become a very attacking option in terms of bowling. 

“If there was a full game, I reckon something like 150-160 would have been a good score.”

Masood, meanwhile, has confirmed that he is set to miss the whole of July’s county action following his call-up for Pakistan’s two-Test series in Sri Lanka between July 16-29.

The left-hander links up with the Test squad on July 3, and Yorkshire then have three LV= Insurance County Championship fixtures in July added to any potential Blast knockout matches.

“Hopefully it’s not going to be long and I’ll be back for the Royal London Cup,” said Masood. That competition starts on August 1.

On today’s loan signing of Surrey left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty, Masood added: “From my side, when you look at the squad, you look at what lacks. You’re supposed to cover all bases.

“We don’t have a left-arm spinner or a batter who can bowl left-arm spin. 

“When you go in with a squad of 25-30, you want to make sure you have all facets of the game covered. Moriarty brings the left-arm angle when it comes to spin. Let’s see how it goes. We’re wishing him all the best, and hopefully he can put in a good shift for us.

“It’s still early days (in terms of team selection). We’re a couple of days away from the game, and I don’t want to say, ‘Someone’s playing or someone’s not’.

“We’ll do some homework on the opposition and see the pitch tomorrow.

“Dom Bess is the number one spinner at this county. For any chance he does not play, that’s not Bessy being dropped or anything – that’s him taking five. We’ve done that with a lot of players so far.

“Sometimes you can be better off taking the player away from the pressure situation when the games are coming thick and fast.”