more silverware for the County.
Yorkshire put in a strong performance to win the ECB 50+ County Championship title at Kibworth Cricket Club in Leicestershire yesterday.
Captain Steve Wales, nursing a fractured arm, led his side to a nine-wicket victory against Staffordshire thanks to an excellent bowling display.
Choosing to bowl first on a greenish wicket the Yorkshire new ball pair of Rob Keywood and Mark Wilson were excellent, making the most of the early-morning conditions and decimating the Staffordshire top order. Ex-England player Kim Barnett was first to go, bowled by Wilson for two before Andrew Wagg was also dismissed for two, stumped by Richard Sykes off Keywood.
Wilson was at it again when Dave Cotton was out for a duck before Keywood got his second wicket, dispatching Ade Butler to leave Staffordshire seven for four. Captain Tony Dutton tried to rebuild with Rob Heath but he was out lbw by Kevin Watson for 12. Jeremy Scott then joined Heath and the pair added 40 for the sixth wicket.
Wales brought himself into the attack and soon broke the partnership as Scott was caught by Kevin Bradley for 17. Heath was subsequently caught behind off Stephen Booth for a well-made 28 as Staffordshire were reduced to 77 for seven.
Neil Grant ran out Mark Stanyer for one but Chris Rhodes and Andrew Kenvyn took the score past 100 before Kenvyn was run out for 14 by Nigel Doyle. Wales then bowled Simon Law and Staffordshire were all out for 104 in the final over. Opening bowler Wilson finished with 2-12 from his nine overs while Keywood was awarded man of the match for his 2-9 from nine overs, including five maidens.
Yorkshire openers Kevin Bradley and Richard Sykes started steadily and resisted any pressure applied by the Staffordshire bowling attack. Bradley was the more fluent of the two and they put on 68 before Sykes was stumped for 16 off Scott.
Bradley went on to pass 50 and was joined by Colin Frank to ease their way to the total, Frank finishing on a run-a-ball 21 while Bradley struck 61 from 66 balls as Yorkshire reached their target in the 28th over to take the title for the first time since 2006.