By Gary Watton
July 9 2013

He has rapidly developed into a key member of the Yorkshire first XI, and this evening Jack Brooks took no fewer than five wickets at a mere cost of 21 runs against Leicestershire, as the Vikings belatedly recorded a Twenty20 triumph.

In the absence of Andrew Gale, Azeem Rafiq deputised as captain, and winning the toss, he sensibly invited our opponents to bat first. With the Vikings' bowling attack doing itself justice on this occasion, Leicestershire were restricted to a puny 113 for nine from their allocated twenty overs.

In response, the white rose made light work of their undemanding target, in spite of the early loss of the dangerous Phil Jaques. Even Joe Sayers filled his boots with an encouraging knock, and although Adil Rashid didn't put the scorer to too much trouble, the stabilising influence of Gary Ballance joined forces with the highly impressive Dan Hodgson to see the Vikings over the finishing line with lots of overs and plenty of wickets to spare. Hodgson finished unbeaten on fifty-two which calls for a standing ovation from the Yorkshire contingent. Can the Vikings build momentum from this conquest, or does this seven-wicket win simply amount to a false dawn? Watch this space!

YORKSHIRE versus Leicestershire; at Headingley; Tuesday 9th July; YORKSHIRE won the toss.

LEICESTERSHIRE: 113 for 9 (20 overs)

Cobb c Ballance b Brooks 17 (19-2)

Smith c and b Brooks 0 (1-1)

Burns c Plunkett b Brooks 4 (38-5)

Al Hasan c Sayers b Brooks 14 (33-3)

Boyce b Brooks 0 (33-4)

Eckersley b Plunkett 26 (104-9)

Thorneley c Hodgson b Rafiq 1 (45-6)

Taylor b Rashid 16 (67-7)

Ireland c Pyrah b Plunkett 23 (104-8)

Naik not out 6

Hoggard not out 3

Extras: 3

Brooks 5-21

YORKSHIRE: 117 for 3 (16.5 overs)

Jaques c Taylor b Ireland 9 (9-1)

Sayers c Cobb b Naik 28 (50-2)

Hodgson not out 52

Rashid lbw b Naik 4 (54-3)

Ballance not out 21

Extras: 3

YORKSHIRE win by seven wickets.