Norwich Union League: Warwickshire v Yorkshire at Birmingham, 27 Aug 2001 CricInfo Live Report

Norwich Union League: Warwickshire v Yorkshire at Birmingham, 27 Aug 2001
Roy Bradley

Warwickshire innings: Warwickshire won by 7 wickets,
Yorkshire innings: Innings Break,

YORKSHIRE SUFFER RELEGATION SHEIKH AGAINST WARWICKSHIRE

Yorkshire crashed from the high standards of four wins in five Norwich Union League games when Warwickshire wrapped up a seven-wicket victory with 18.1 overs to spare at Edgbaston.

The northerners' improved form began with the dismissal of Warwickshire for 59 at Headingley in July, but there was never any danger of a repeat performance.

Charlie Dagnall had Gavin Hamilton caught behind from the first ball of the match as Yorkshire toppled from the heights of a record one-day score against Nottinghamshire at Scarborough on Sunday.

Darren Lehmann, the trail-blazer on that occasion with 191 out of 353 for six, went for 14 and Yorkshire only just managed to bat out their overs for a score of 137 for nine.

The main damage was done by Mo Sheikh. A loose shot by Lehmann to mid-wicket put the medium-pacer on the way to a career-best performance with four for 17.

Anthony McGrath, caught at cover, was his next victim for a top score of 38 and the only other double-figure innings were played by Craig White (21) and David Byas (17).

Yorkshire, still not clear of relegation worries, needed something special in the field, but inspiration quickly ran out after Matthew Hoggard's second-ball dismissal of Mark Wagh.

Warwickshire reached 43 in the ninth over before Dougie Brown was caught at mid-on off Ryan Sidebottom, and Nick Knight carried on the charge with his first half-century of the season in the one-day league.

David Hemp benefited from two missed chances in a stand of 64 as Warwickshire cruised home with time to spare. Knight went for 53, caught at long leg off Lehmann, but Hemp saw the job through with an unbeaten 43.

YORKSHIRE BATSMEN STRUGGLE AGAINST WARWICKSHIRE

This was a big climb down for Yorkshire after the record-breaking splendour of Darren Lehmann's 191 in a total of 352 for 6 at Scarborough on Sunday.

In completely different conditions on a seaming pitch at Edgbaston, they had trouble in lasting the full 45 overs for a score of 137 for 9 against Warwickshire.

Charlie Dagnall and Dougie Brown whipped out the openers in six overs and Lehmann made only 14 in 25 balls before clipping Mo Sheikh's second delivery to Brown at short mid-wicket.

Sheikh went on to post his best one-day return of 4 for 17, including top scorer Anthony McGrath for 38 with a brilliant catch by Brown at cover.

Gary Fellows briefly damaged Sheikh's economy with a six over mid-wicket but then top edged to mid-on and thereafter it was a struggle for runs. Craig White (21) and David Byas (17) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.