Rudolph impresses with matchwinning century

Acting captain Jacques Rudolph lashed his second century in as many days at Scarborough as Yorkshire beat Clydesdale Bank 40 Group A leaders Sussex by 35 runs.

Yorkshire rattled up 302 for 4 in front of a 6,500 crowd, before bowling out their opponents for 267, although they are too far down the table to stand any chance of reaching the semi-finals. Rudolph, who hit 120 in the Championship clash between the sides on Saturday, was again in tremendous form after Yorkshire had been put in to bat.

The South African left-hander opened the innings and led the charge with an unbeaten 132 off just 112 deliveries with 11 fours and three sixes. It was Yorkshire's fifth highest individual knock in this form of cricket and Rudolph's seventh century in the competition as well as his seventh three-figure score in all matches at North Marine Road.

Rudolph was not the only star of the show, however, because Adam Lyth contributed a sparkling 73 off 68 balls with eight fours and a six in an opening stand of 142 in 22 overs.

Jonny Bairstow, who will now join up with England's one-day team for their one-off game in Dublin this week, also hammered 52 from 45 deliveries with two fours and three sixes while helping to put on 113 for the second wicket in 14 overs.

Lyth had an early piece of luck when he was dropped by Monty Panesar at backward square leg in the opening over from Chris Liddle but from that point on the Whitby-born batsman set the pace, blasting Naveed Arif over mid-wicket for six and taking consecutive boundaries off Michael Yardy on his way to 50 from 44 balls with six fours and a six.

Rudolph clattered sixes off Chris Nash and Yardy either side of completing his half-century but the partnership was broken by Panesar when Lyth got into a tangle attempting to sweep and was bowled. Bairstow entered the fray to drive two sweetly timed sixes in one over from Panesar before Rudolph cantered to his ninth one-day hundred for Yorkshire off 90 deliveries with eight fours and two sixes.

Attempting another big hit, Bairstow was well caught low down at long off by Lou Vincent and Gerard Brophy was bowled by Liddle. Gary Ballance struck three consecutive fours but departed when Wayne Parnell hit his stumps in the final over, leaving Anthony McGrath to drive his first ball for six to take Yorkshire over the 300 mark.

Ed Joyce made the right sort of start for Sussex with three consecutive boundaries off Oliver Hannon-Dalby who was immediately replaced by leg-spinner, Adil Rashid.

He was also hit for two fours by Joyce who then drove hard to mid-off where Hannon-Dalby held on to a splendid catch. Yorkshire tightened their grip as Steve Patterson struck twice, Nash flicking straight to Bairstow on the mid-wicket boundary and Murray Goodwin driving to Rashid at cover.

Vincent looked threatening until he hooked at Hannon-Dalby and was athletically caught at deep mid-wicket by Ballance and David Wainwright took a stinging return catch to get rid of Joe Gatting after a 56-run stand with Yardy.

The Sussex captain, who notched a century in each innings of the Championship match, tried bravely to hold his side together and he was helped when dropped on the cover boundary by Bairstow.

He galloped to his 50 from 39 balls with three fours and two sixes but was bowled giving himself too much room to cut at Rashid. Just when Ben Brown and Parnell were beginning to make Yorkshire feel anxious with a 67-run stand, Rashid returned for Parnell to nibble a catch to wicketkeeper, Brophy, and Naveed was caught on the boundary edge by Ballance.

Brown received 41 balls for his half-century with three fours but Yorkshire were back in charge now and after Moin Ashraf deservedly got a wicket by bowling Liddle the match ended with the running out of Brown in the 37th over.