Date-stamped : 04 Aug97 - 14:31 McGrath in charge for Yorkshire By Charles Randall at Headingley Yorkshire (239-9) beat Northants (201) by 38 runs THE NOON start, for the second time this summer, seemed to suit Yorkshire very well yesterday because they parcelled up Northamptonshire without fuss at Headingley to keep their out- side title chance alive. The match involving Leeds Rhinos on the adjacent rugby league pitch again caused the time adjustment and, as in the Middle- sex match a month ago, it had no detrimental effect on the size of the crowd or Yorkshire`s fortunes. Anthony McGrath, with 63 in 51 balls, charged his opponents with the bat as Northamptonshire flattenings continued - only two wins now for the Midlanders against Yorkshire in 11 years. Medium-paced seam bowlers were meat and drink on this tricky, slow pitch, and Northamptonshire suffered accordingly. Spin- ners proved much more effective - and even Darren Lehmann`s inno- cent left-arm- ers claimed three upper-order victims. Yorkshire swung the bat from the start, with Craig White and David Byas excelling, but six wickets were lost by the 29th over; too quickly for comfort. Then McGrath found his range and sent four sixes soaring over the arc between extra-cover and point as 90 runs were added. The total always looked enough except in the first over of Northamptonshire`s reply, when Gavin Hamilton delivered five wides to the left-handed Tony Penberthy. Later he collided with Alex Morris in the field and injured his leg, suggesting it was never going to be his day. Lehmann snaffled the important wicket of Rob Bailey by parry- ing a firm drive and adroitly catching the rebound. An easi- er return catch off Kevin Curran, 57 in 61 balls, ended Northamp- tonshire`s realis- tic chances. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)