By Gary Watton
May 16 2014

Yet again the Yorkshire Vikings have got their Twenty20 campaign off to a losing start. The hosts did at least win the toss and just about contrived to post a satisfactory total of 162. However, Northamptonshire Steelbacks are a formidable bunch and they timed their run chase to perfection, although the reigning champions did sail a bit close to the wind at times.

Although an opening setback is scarcely a good omen, the Vikings can take encouragement from a spirited performance. Personally, I wanted the same eleven that excelled against Warwickshire earlier in the week being reinstated for this tussle. Alas the one-day specialist Richard Pyrah and the veteran Ryan Sidebottom were drafted in at the expense of Lyth and Patterson. Regrettably Ryan did not justify his selection while Adam Lyth could not have done any worse than Andrew Gale who again flopped in this cricketing format. It was a tragedy that Joe Root didn't get to bowl more than one decent over, while Adil Rashid's solitary over was a disaster, yielding nineteen runs. Surely Carver, Leaning, or Rafiq might soon be regarded as a safer option than the erratic Rashid.

Oh well. While no batsman covered himself in glory, the show was stolen by the Kiwi bowler, Ian Butler, who took four wickets. As for the Vikings, they need to bounce back with a triumph against the Warwickshire Bears next Friday. Suffice to say that the arrival of the ace batsman Aaron Finch in early June cannot come quick enough.

YORKSHIRE won the toss.

YORKSHIRE VIKINGS: 162 for 7 off 20 overs (Butler 4-25)

Northamptonshire Steelbacks: 165 for 7 off 19.5 overs

Northamptonshire Steelbacks won by three wickets. YORKSHIRE VIKINGS 0 points, Northamptonshire Steelbacks 2 points.