Anthony McGrath led Yorkshire's recovery with a fighting half century in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy quarter final clash with Warwickshire at Headingley today, writes David Warner.

McGrath was unbeaten on 63 when Yorkshire had reached 121 for four in 32 overs after being put in to bat.

Openers Gavin Hamilton and Matthew Wood had each scored a single by the fourth over when Wood flashed at a wide ball outside off stump from Neil Carter to gift a catch to wicketkeeper Keith Piper.

After a shaky start, Hamilton looked to be gaining in confidence and he cracked Carter for consecutive boundaries through the covers.

Warwickshire made their first bowling change at 37 for one in 13 overs when Mo Sheikh took over from Carter.

Brown was replaced by Vasbert Drakes whose first ball was neatly on-driven for four by McGrath.

The Bradford-born batsman later in the over calmly hit Drakes off the backfoot through the covers to raise the 50 and the batsmen were gradually getting on top of the situation.

The second-wicket stand had moved on to 63 when Hamilton was out for 29, swinging wildly at Sheikh and being bowled. The left-hander had hit five cleanly struck boundaries but his dismissal was a poor way to get out.

Darren Lehmann was next in at 65 for two but it was McGrath who caught the eye with consecutive boundaries off Sheikh with glorious strokes.

The Australian never looked at ease and he departed for only two, the victim of another rash shot.

McGrath was anchored on 49 for a while but eventually he swept Ashley Giles for a single to reach his half-century off 93 balls with five fours.

Unfortunately for Yorkshire they lost another wicket with the score on 120, Gary Fellows being bowled by Sheikh for 11, with Craig White falling soon after.

Yorkshire's England pair of Darren Gough and White both returned to the side, but Chris Silverwood was surprisingly omitted because of a twinge in his back which skipper David Byas admitted was nothing serious.

"We did not want to risk playing someone who was not fully fit when we have other options and we have also got the Roses match coming up on Friday," said Byas.

Silverwood's absence meant there was room for new bowling sensation Steven Kirby, who helped Silverwood reduce Warwickshire to 12 for six in the Norwich Union League floodlit match on Monday.

Updated: 16:35 Wednesday, July 25, 2001