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Du Plessis inspires Lancs

11/ 5/2008

FRANCOIS Du Plessis hit a brilliant unbeaten 77 to give Lancashire a thrilling three-wicket Friends Provident Trophy win over Roses rivals Yorkshire at Old Trafford.

The South African rescued the hosts from 76 for five in the 22nd over of a Duckworth-Lewis affected 45-over chase of 214.

It meant the Lightning stayed top of the North Division and made them favourites to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Du Plessis, the 23-year-old Kolpak batsman, is on a sixth-month deal at Old Trafford and plays his provincial cricket for the Nashua Titans.

He notched his first limited overs fifty off 62 balls, with four boundaries and one six included. He faced 80 balls in total.

Two wickets apiece for Yorkshire captain Darren Gough (three for 45) and Tim Bresnan looked to have done the damage early on in the hosts' reply.

Jacques Rudolph had earlier hit a crucial 65, while Craig White hit 42 not out to help the visitors recover from 58 for four.

Kyle Hogg got the hosts off to the perfect start with his three-wicket burst to reduce Yorkshire to 44 for three in the 12th over.

Hogg, who missed the first two weeks of the season, has impressed with the new ball in Lancashire's last two games.

The 24 year-old took two wickets in the games against Durham and Scotland last weekend.

He bettered it here by removing Gerard Brophy, following a run-a-ball 18, Anthony McGrath (two) and Andrew Gale (20). Sajid Mahmood removed Adam Lyth shortly after to leave the visitors teetering.

Rebuilding

But Rudolph set about rebuilding the innings in a fifth-wicket partnership of 81 with former England all-rounder White.

Rudolph hit just three boundaries and one six in an 86-ball knock that was ended when he was bowled around his legs trying to sweep spinner Simon Marshall.

No sooner had the South African left-hander departed, an unexpected hailstorm hit Old Trafford to halt play for 95 minutes.

When the match resumed, White was helped along by brief, but useful, knocks from Bresnan (21) and Rich Pyrah (10).

White, 38, was only playing his second game of any kind this season but demonstrated he is still worthy of a place with two fours and a late six off Mahmood in a 76-ball unbeaten 42.

Marshall picked up two for 37, as Mahmood and Croft finished with one wicket apiece.

Yorkshire finished on 204 for seven from their 45 overs but the target was increased by 10 via Duckworth-Lewis.

Lancashire actually made a solid start to their reply, reaching 33 without loss. But Bresnan's double strike to remove Mal Loye and Stuart Law began a rapid decline.

Gough quickly snapped up Mohammad Yousuf and Steven Croft, the latter with a reflex caught-and-bowled effort at the second attempt, to leave the score at 46 for four.

And then left-arm spinner David Wainwright bowled Gareth Cross for 41 in his first over to leave the score at 76 for five.

Du Plessis and Sutton put on a sixth-wicket partnership of 62 but a run rate north of seven per over meant the hosts were always struggling once it was broken by Pyrah.

But Hogg (31) joined Du Plessis to put on 57 for the eighth wicket and set up things for Glen Chapple to hit the winning runs.

Du Plessis and Chapple hit 17 runs off the penultimate over.