Rafiq triumphs on historic day

Yorkshire 171 for 6 (MIller 74*) beat Durham 159 (Gibbs 76, Sidebottom 4-25, Starc 3-33) by 12 runs
Scorecard

Azeem Rafiq became the first cricketer of Asian origin, and the youngest player in the county's history, to captain Yorkshire when he led them to victory in a Friends Life t20 tie away to Durham at Chester-le-Street.

Rafiq, only 21 and born in Karachi, was deputising for Andrew Gale after Yorkshire's regular captain was ruled out with a hip injury.

He has had widespread captaincy experience, having led England's Under-15 and Under-19 sides, the latter at the World Cup in 2010, as well as skippering Yorkshire's 2nd X1 this season and leading them in pre-season friendlies, both at home and abroad.

His career has had its controversial moments. Two years ago he was banned from all matches for a month after verbally abusing England Under-19 coach John Abrahams on Twitter when he was dropped from the side to play Sri Lanka after breaking a curfew.

When he made his Yorkshire first-team debut in a Twenty20 match against Nottinghamshire in 2008, it subsequently emerged that he was not properly registered because at the time he did not have a British passport.

Rafiq's honour transformed a demoralising season for Yorkshire's Asian contingent. Ajmal Shahzad was farmed out to Lancashire on loan, amid a general agreement that his career at Headingley was over, after falling out with the county over bowling tactics.

More gloom followed when Adil Rashid, another England international, was dropped into the 2nd X1 and told to fight to regain his place.

Yorkshire's win, which took them level with Nottinghamshire at the top of the North group, was fashioned by David Miller, who scored a half-century against Durham, his former county, to set up a 12-run win.

Miller, whose top score of 54 for Durham last year came against Yorkshire, thrashed six sixes - including four leg-side hits off the legspinner Scott Borthwick - in an unbeaten 74 off 35 balls to take the visitors to 171 for 6.

Durham were coasting when they reached 108 for 1 in reply after 10 overs with the South African, Herschelle Gibbs, on 69. But Gibbs departed for 76, made off 47 balls, when he drove Moin Ashraf to extra cover and Durham quickly collapsed to 159 all out.

In the three overs after the mid-point, Ashraf and Mitchell Starc conceded only 10 runs and removed Johann Myburgh for 14 as well as Gibbs.

Durham became frantic and Ryan Sidebottom picked up three wickets in his second spell to finish with his best T20 figures of four for 25.

Yorkshire's innings was also fired up by Adam Lyth, who hit the fifth ball of the match, from Liam Plunkett, for a six wide of long-on and went on to make 30 off 20 balls. Joe Root also batted superbly for 41 off 32 balls. There was no joy for Jonny Bairstow, who was bowled by Ben Stokes after travelling up from the washed-out one-day international at Headingley.