Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale admitted his delight at continuing his fine start to the T20 Blast campaign as his half-century saw the Vikings home against Nottinghamshire. The left-hander struck 68 from just 55 balls, including a six off Sam Wood to win the game, as he became the first man from the county to register 2000 T20 runs.
Gale, who made 41 in the victory over Derbyshire in week one, revealed he was thrilled to have started so well given a disappointing year with the bat in 2014.
“To come here to Trent Bridge where Notts have a fantastic record and there’s always a good crowd in, to win like that is fantastic,” he said.
“It was nice. It wasn’t as fluent as I would have liked and I was a little bit rusty but I’ve had a good start.
“After a poor year last season in T20 cricket I wanted some runs on the board. I’ve done that in the first two games and I’m pleased with my contribution.
“I would have liked to be there at the end last week, but to pass 2000 runs is something that I’m proud I achieved. It’s about kicking on now. I’ve still got a long career ahead of me so why not three or four thousand.”
Gale’s knock was the bedrock of Yorkshire’s innings as he added 61 for the first wicket with Andrew Hodd, before combining with Glenn Maxwell as the debutant thrashed 20 from 12 balls to get the visitors to within sight of their target of 144. Gale hit five fours, as well as his maximum, to close the game out despite some fine bowling from Samit Patel and Steve Mullaney.
The same pair had performed admirably with the bat, as Patel made 41 before a rush of the blood to the head saw him caught behind off Adil Rashid. Mullaney hit 38 before being run out off the final ball of the innings.
With the exception of this, the Outlaws struggled. Liam Plunkett was the pick of the Yorkshire bowlers with 2-18 from his four overs. He began by getting Brendon Taylor, even though Matthew Fisher did his best to drop the catch at mid-on before finally securing it in his armpit.
The former Durham paceman then returned to have James Taylor caught behind for just three, though he was indebted to Jonny Bairstow as he took superb one-handed diving catch low to his right.
As with their batting, so Nottinghamshire’s bowlers struggled despite Harry Gurney beginning proceedings with a maiden. Luke Fletcher, so often the Trent Bridge outfit’s hero with the ball, was disappointing while Jake Ball strayed down the leg-side far too often.
Patel removed Hodd for 22 before Mullaney accounted for Alex Lees and Bairstow in quick succession, but by the time Maxwell picked out Mullaney at long-on, the game was up. Jack Leaning joined Gale to see the visitors home with seven balls remaining.
