Lyth sets up crushing win

Yorkshire 213 for 7 beat Worcestershire 109 by 104 runs
Scorecard

Man-of-the-Match Adam Lyth's swashbuckling innings helped Yorkshire to a 104-run victory over Worcestershire in their Friends Provident t20 clash. Lyth smashed 59 from 24 balls as Yorkshire hit their highest Twenty20 total of 213 for 7 and it was all too much for the visitors. Worcestershire were all out for 109 in reply, with more than three overs remaining, as they limped to their sixth straight loss in the competition.

Lyth, who only made it into the side because of a shoulder injury to Jacques Rudolph, opened with Andrew Gale and watched on as his captain began by hammering Jack Shantry's second and third deliveries for four and six. With two more blistering boundaries off Richard Jones, Gale had raced to 19 off six balls but in the same over he skied a shot to former Yorkshire batsman Phil Jaques at midwicket.

Gale's departure was the signal for Lyth to go on the rampage with an 18-ball half-century, the joint third fastest in domestic Twenty20. So ferocious was his hitting that his first 48 runs off 16 balls were made up of nine fours and two sixes before he scampered a single and then ran a two to complete his half-century.

The first two balls which Lyth faced after Gale's dismissal were hit for fours and his first six came when he swivelled round and thumped Gareth Andrew high over square leg, a shot which he followed up with four through the covers. Sanath Jayasuriya was the next to suffer, driven for six over long on and cut for four to raise the 50 in 3.5 overs.

Lyth took three fours in an over from James Cameron as the carnage continued and when Herschelle Gibbs joined in the fun with consecutive sixes off Moeen Ali Yorkshire had sprinted to three figures off just 6.5 overs.

The second wicket stand reached 108 in seven overs when Gibbs fell for 40 from 25 balls. Lyth's blistering knock was then ended by Jayasuriya, who pinned him lbw after he had struck 10 fours and two sixes. Worcestershire then managed to restore some order but Jonny Bairstow was still able to contribute an unbeaten 49 off 30 balls with two fours and three sixes.

An upset never looked likely because Worcestershire then lost early wickets in a futile attempt to get on terms. Jaques was caught behind off Steve Patterson's first ball and Ali fell to a well-judged catch by Anthony McGrath.

Lyth continued to enjoy himself with a stunning boundary catch to bring Tino Best the wicket of Jayasuriya and Richard Pyrah dismissed Jack Manuel in his first over. Offspinner Azeem Rafiq destroyed the middle order with 3 for 23 off his four overs while Pyrah snuffed out the tail to give him figures of 3 for 12.