Date-stamped : 15 Aug95 - 22:27 NatWest Trophy Semi Final: Yorkshire v Northamptonshire Headingley, 15 August 1995 Northants spoil party as sell-out Yorkshire crowd adds bitter note - Charles Randall Northamptonshire (286-5) bt Yorkshire (199) by 87 runs CRICKET fervour in Leeds evaporated yesterday as Yorkshire lost a one-sided NatWest Trophy semi-final in one of the biggest anti- climaxes of all time at this level. County Championship leaders Northamptonshire, on this form, should prove confident and dangerous opponents for Warwickshire, who beat Glamorgan by eight wickets, in the final at Lord`s on Sept 2. Yorkshire had not attracted sell-out crowds to Headingley`s sun- trap ground since the age of steam trains that disgorged rolled- up sleeves and braces by the thousand off the nearby Leeds- Harrogate line. Yesterday White Rose supporters poured in again from all parts, swelling the crowd to 18,000 and hoping to sweep their county on to Lord`s, but they were to be disappointed, and long before the end the drunks on the western terrace had made their sour impact on the afternoon. Yorkshire were motivated, but simply not good enough, suffering a second blow to their esteem so soon after the one-run defeat by Surrey in the championship the previous day. Northamptonshire, one of the smallest counties in terms of sup- port, pressured their way through to their seventh 60-over final, thanks mainly to Rob Bailey`s 93 not out, which earned him his third consecutive man-of-the-match award. Bailey`s 103-ball innings and a typically breezy 63 by Allan Lamb, the captain, formed the basis of a formidable total, and Yorkshire never even reached nodding terms with their target. It was when Yorkshire lost three key wickets in one Anil Kumble over that the focus seemed to switch to a boozed-up section on the western terrace Only about a thousand tickets went to Midlands supporters, ensur- ing Yorkshire were roared on by a huge partisan crowd, most of whom slipped into a dignified, patient acceptance of defeat as their hopes faded with the evening light. Even the quarter-final game against Lancashire two weeks ago had not been sold out a week in advance. Northants, in theory, were a weaker attraction, but opposition had nothing to do with the overwhelming desire among Yorkshire folk to see their county climb the heights for the first time since the 1987 Benson and Hedges Cup success. Expectations had been high at Headingley in May when Yorkshire qualified impressively for their Benson and Hedges quarter-final. The batting collapsed on a damp pitch against Worcestershire for a quick defeat, but the attendance had been nothing like as big or as expectant as yesterday`s. It was when Yorkshire lost three key wickets in one Anil Kumble over that the focus seemed to switch to a boozed-up section on the western terrace. From this densely populated vantage came all the chanting, several nasty fist fights, 15 arrests, a few thrown tomatoes, two streakers and a number of failed Mexican waves. Rowdiness by a minority was the price for big-time county cricket in Leeds, but it was still worth paying. Streaking and steward activity were not the only hold-ups. Apart from the tedious habit of practice deliveries, play was halted nine times by the umpires for television verdicts from `third` umpire Barrie Leadbeater, who never saw scenes like these in his Headingley days as a player. Batsmen from both teams seemed overwhelmed by heatwave madness between the wickets, resulting in five unnecessary run-outs. In the morning Richard Montgomerie called his hitherto flourishing partner, Alan Fordham, to his doom and then ran himself out. In the afternoon three Yorkshire players went in similar fashion, and Michael Bevan did not even need a television replay. Over three decades Yorkshire`s attempts at winning the 60-overs competition seemed almost stuck in a time-warp With the rise of Darren Gough as a profile figure, Yorkshire`s venture into a much flashier image seemed to have helped confi- dence on the field, probably through renewed public interest. Over three decades Yorkshire`s attempts at winning the 60-overs competition, let alone the championship, seemed almost stuck in a time-warp. Beatlemania was still around when they reached their only two finals, both successes in 1965 and 1969. Their highest total has remained their Lord`s score from 1965, a surprise considering all the opportunities through the years of destroying minor county attacks. And Fred Trueman`s six wickets for 15 at Taunton that summer has not been bettered since. Yesterday was only the county`s second home semi-final, with Scarborough chosen as the venue in 1969. As an event, if not as a match, Yorkshire will want a repeat as soon as possible, assuming they can control sections of the crowd that hover close to hooli- ganism. The slow pitch suited Bailey, with his front-foot power, who took control after he had been dropped twice. Lamb, with his wide stroke range, proved impossible to contain, tucking into Paul Grayson`s slow left-armers before giving Craig White another fruitless day after his England Test disappointment. In reply Yorkshire could not settle. Michael Vaughan struck some exquisite boundaries before he was run out four balls from tea. An off-colour David Byas seemed to push him into an unwanted third run and he failed to beat Kevin Curran`s throw. Kumble pinned Ashley Metcalfe lbw first ball in an over contain- ing two further run-outs, and Yorkshire expired quietly. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)