LEIC vs YORKS 73rd Match, T20 Blast 2023

1:57 AM IST | A gargantuan 158-run opening partnership between Dawid Malan and Adam Lyth, the highest first-wicket stand for the club, has helped the Yorkshire Vikings easily defeat the Leicestershire Foxes in their T20 Blast game at Headingley by eight wickets with 11 balls to spare.

Set an imposing 196-run target, the two left-handers took things slowly in the first over but then launched into the hapless Leicester bowlers, combining classy timing with pertinent power hitting in what was both an exciting and aesthetic batting performance that set pulses racing. Their partnership is the second highest ever for the team, one short of the record, incidentally set just last week.

Malan, in imperious form in this tournament, cut loose with elan, hitting the ball to all corners of the ground before finally perishing on 79 off 45 balls, holing out to sweeper cover while trying to go for another big hit. He is on 488 runs in the tournament.

But by then the job was done. Last week’s hero James Wharton got out early, but that only brought the experienced David Wiese to the crease who joined Lyth in the crease. Lyth, who was by then seeing the ball like a football and the two confident campaigners finished things off in style. Lyth remained not out on 90 off 50 in what was the innings of the game. Wiese remained unbeaten on 13 off 8.

Earlier, in a see-saw innings, Leicestershire, put into bat, reached an imposing 195 runs after beginning well, courtesy a great cameo by Nick Welch (40 off 24), but then losing their way and again finding their feet later.

A flurry of wickets, especially the two in two picked up by medium pacer Ban Mike, pulled things back for Yorkshire dramatically. But then Louis Kimber strode out to the middle and began middling the ball with confidence after settling down. He finished not out on 59 off 31. For the hosts, Dom Bess (0/22) and Jordan Thompson (1/28), were the pick of the bowlers.  Mike picked up two scalps but was a tad expensive, going for 43 runs in his four overs.

Despite the late resurrection, the total was not enough to get the better of the impressive and in-form Yorkshire batters who marched on to yet another victory, their sixth-straight in this format.