Lord’s final hopes over

YORKSHIRE are closing in on a resounding Bob Willis Trophy victory over Leicestershire at Emerald Headingley, but it will not be enough for them to reach the Lord’s final later this month.

The White Rose county’s fate was sealed just before tea on day three when they failed to reach 400 in their first-innings reply to Leicester’s 124 - bowled out for 252.

They needed to post 400 in order to give themselves a chance to reach 90 points in the North Group, a mark that is likely to secure a place at Lord’s later this month.

Leicester then closed on 78 for five from 26 second-innings overs, and victory here could still see the hosts top the North table.

But the Lord’s finalists will be Essex from the South and either Worcestershire or Somerset, who are locked in battle at New Road, from the Central.

Yorkshire’s bid for 400 and a 24-point haul was undermined by collapses at either end of their first innings in overcast and bowler-friendly conditions.

They started day three on 36 for two and quickly slipped to 46 for four as Will Fraine and Tom Loten played loosely at left-arm quick Dieter Klein and were caught at mid-on and behind respectively.

But Harry Brook, Jonny Tattersall and Jordan Thompson - who later claimed three wickets - all hit half-centuries and fashioned a recovery.

Brook, particularly fluent on the way to 53, shared 75 with Tattersall before lunch.

Tattersall (71) later added 116 with sixth-wicket partner Thompson. The hosts lost their last five wickets for 15 runs in only 29 balls.