YORKSHIRE clinched their second Friends Life t20 win on the spin last night as they easily beat Derbyshire at the County Ground by 41 runs last night.

Moin Ashraf played a crucial role in defending a target of 151 by returning career best figures of 4-18 as the hosts were bowled out for 109 with the last ball of the match. Rich Pyrah also claimed three wickets and Mitchell Starc two during an excellent display with the ball and in the field.

Gary Ballance had earlier top scored with an unbeaten 47 off 35 balls, including three fours and three sixes, in a total of 150-5.

The left-hander, formerly of Derbyshire, smashed two of his sixes in the penultimate over of the innings off Mark Turner, which went for 17 in total. Ballance helped to take 40 off the last three overs, including 32 off the last two.

Yorkshire were at their most aggressive at either end of the innings, although they were pegged back by ex-Headingley left-arm spinner David Wainwright, who excelled with figures of 2-14 from his four overs.

Wainwright struck twice in his first four balls, getting Andrew Gale caught at longoff for 39 off 26 balls and David Miller caught at slip for a golden duck to leave the visitors at 66-3 in the ninth over.

Gale backed up Sunday’s 70 against Leicestershire with another impressive display, but his departure ensured Wainwright and company were able to apply the brakes.

From the end of the eighth over until the end of the 16th, Yorkshire only managed to score 39 runs at a rate of less than five runs per over.

Joe Root brought his usual invention to the crease in his 36 off 39 balls to at least ensure the damage was limited and give Ballance the chance to explode in the closing stages.

Derbyshire got their chase off to a solid start with 45-1 after the first six overs, the wicket taken by Starc.

But Ashraf trapped Wes Durston lbw and bowled Wayne Madsen in his first two overs, leaving the score at 56-3, before Dan Redfern was run out and Ross Whiteley bowled by Pyrah to put them on the rack at 63-5 in the eleventh.

Pyrah also bowled Chesney Hughes and had Tom Poynton caught at long-off to finish with 3-21. Ashraf then had Rana Naved-ul-Hasan caught behind and bowled Tim Groenewald.

With Derby needing 42 off the last over, the game was in the bag for Gale’s men. But Starc sealed their success when he bowled Turner with the last ball of the match.

Yorkshire’s next encounter is against Durham at the Emirates ICG on Friday.