ANDREW GALE’S half-century ensured Yorkshire maintained the Vikings’ perfect start to the T20 Blast with a six-wicket win over Nottinghamshire.

The captain became the first man to surpass 2000 T20 runs for the county as he finished unbeaten on 68 from 55 balls as they chased down their target of 144 with relative ease.

Gale and Andrew Hodd got Yorkshire off to the perfect start as they added 61 for the first wicket before the latter drilled a Samit Patel delivery straight to James Taylor at cover for 22.

Alex Lees fell in the next over as he lobbed Steven Mullaney to Taylor for just two before Jonny Bairstow top-edged a pull off the same bowler and Brendan Taylor took a juggling catch to dismiss the England wicketkeeper for 10.

That brought Maxwell to the crease, and he announced himself with a drilled six off his second ball before cutting Luke Fletcher for another maximum to bring the run-rate below a run a ball.

At the other end Gale went to his half-century from 43 balls before Maxwell clubbed a Wood delivery straight to Mullaney to fall for 20.

But Gale made sure there were no final over nerves as he swept Wood for a six over mid-wicket to secure victory.

Gale had earlier won the toss and elected to field, and on a slow wicket the Vikings bowled with excellent discipline.

The hosts lost two wickets in the powerplay as Matt Fisher took two excellent catches to remove Riki Wessels and Brendan Taylor, though the latter disputed his dismissal as Fisher completed the catch in his armpit.

Greg Smith and Patel then added 44 for the third wicket before the former holed out to Liam Plunkett at long-on for 27 off Rich Pyrah before former Durham paceman Plunkett removed James Taylor via a fine diving catch by Jonny Bairstow.

Patel went onto make 41 before he too was caught by Bairstow – this time off the bowling of Adil Rashid – and the wicketkeeper continued a fine display behind the stumps by running out Sam Wood.

Mullaney survived two dropped chances by Gale and Hodd to make 38 before he was run out off the final delivery, but it never seemed enough as the visitors won at a canter.

Meanwhile Yorkshire head coach Jason Gillespie revealed he had held talks with England over their vacant head coach role.

The former Australia seamer met with Andrew Strauss and ECB chief executive Tom Harrison on Thursday, and said: “It was a really good chat.

“It was made very clear to me that there are a number of people that the ECB are talking to about the role and they’ve got a process they need to go through. Until I hear anything else I’m going to continue on as normal."