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McGrath hits ton in Yorkshire win

category: Cricket

26.05.2008 23:52

Anthony McGrath's first century of the season helped Yorkshire secure a seven-wicket win over Scotland.

Yorkshire now need to beat Lancashire in the final group match on Wednesday to be certain of topping their group.

Batting first, Scotland hit 244 and were on course for an upset when they reduced Yorkshire to 59-2.

But McGrath (105) and Jacques Rudolph (82) put Yorkshire in charge with a record third-wicket stand of 164 in 29 overs as they won with 9.2 overs left.

McGrath's innings came off 99 deliveries with 15 fours, while Rudolph's contained eight fours and a six and came off 96 balls.

The pair easily overtook Yorkshire's previous best partnership for the third wicket of 132 between Matthew Wood and Michael Lumb against Cambridgeshire in 2003.

The Saltires were handicapped to some extent by losing former Yorkshire paceman John Blain with a shoulder injury after the opening bowler had sent down three overs for 17 runs.

And Yorkshire, already reeling from a number of injuries to fast bowlers, suffered a further setback in the Saltires innings when Deon Kruis had to pull out of his eighth over with a hamstring strain.

He will undergo a scan on Tuesday morning but he could be out of action for about a month.

Yorkshire skipper Darren Gough emerged as his side's most successful bowler on the day he officially announced his retirement at the end of the season.

Gough ended with 3-40 but was struck for four boundaries before making his first breakthrough.

Another former Yorkshire player Gavin Hamilton got Saltires off to a good start by featuring in an opening stand of 90 with Ryan Watson.

But both fell in consecutive overs, with Watson bowled by Gough for 54 after hitting him for two consecutive fours and Hamilton caught at square leg by Richard Pyrah off Adil Rashid for 34.

Colin Smith ensured a respectable score with a powerful 60 off 70 balls with four fours, while Fraser Watts weighed in with 34.

Original text is here

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