McGrath sees Yorkshire home

Anthony McGrath led the run-chase as Yorkshire got their NatWest Pro40 promotion bid back on track with victory over Kent by seven wickets at Scarborough.

Chasing a modest target of 190, Yorkshire were an uncomfortable 39 for two after Ryan McLaren had dismissed Andrew Gale and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan in the space of three balls.

But McGrath rarely looked in any trouble as he made his way to an unbeaten 85, putting on 75 for the third wicket with South African Jacques Rudolph and an unbroken 76 with Gerard Brophy, who hit 38 not out to complement his four catches.

McGrath began steadily before hitting four consecutive boundaries off Simon Cook, first forcing him through mid-on and then steering three fours to the vacant third man fence.

He moved to his half-century off 52 balls, which included six fours, and stepped up a gear near the end by striking James Tredwell for two consecutive sixes, the second going over the rope at long-on off the outstretched hand of substitute fielder Neil Dexter.

The winning runs came with 6.5 overs to spare, McGrath by then having faced 80 balls and hit seven fours and two sixes.

Anthony McGrath's well-paced 85 not out at quicker than a run a ball saw Yorkshire home

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Rudolph had also taken a shine to Tredwell, on-driving the off-spinner for two sixes on his way to 41 with five other boundaries before he was dismissed by Robbie Joseph.

Yorkshire's pace bowlers exploited helpful conditions after winning the toss, and movement off the pitch contributed to several dismissals as Kent had to work hard to reach 189 for nine.

They would have been in much greater difficulty but for a cleanly-struck 60 not out off just 40 deliveries from Darren Stevens.

Stevens went to his fifty in the final over of the innings by driving Darren Gough through extra cover for four and he kept the scoreboard moving by cracking the Yorkshire captain's next ball over midwicket for six.

Tim Bresnan, temporarily released from the England squad to play in this match, had drawn first blood by having Rob Key taken at first slip, and, although the seamer only conceded 10 runs in his opening spell of five overs, he was not called upon again.

New-ball partner Deon Kruis produced excellent outswingers to have Martin van Jaarsveld and Joe Denly caught behind by Brophy, but Yorkshire's most effective bowler was medium-pacer Richard Pyrah.

Pyrah captured 4-35 off eight consecutive overs to give him career-best figures in the competition.

His first victim was Justin Kemp, who drove high and straight towards the sightscreen and was splendidly caught by Rudolph, running round from long-off.

Kemp departed for 36 when well set and Pyrah went on to end a belligerent 42 from Cook by bowling him before having McLaren snapped up first ball by Brophy off an inside edge.

Geraint Jones survived the hat-trick delivery but he soon became Pyrah's fourth victim when he edged a drive and Brophy clung on to a fine one-handed catch.