YORKSHIRE were beaten for the first time in this year's Royal London Cup after a nail-biting finish against Surrey.

Set 266 to win at The Oval, the Vikings lost by just six runs as they slumped to 259-7 despite another fine innings from Gary Ballance.

In the end, it came down to the final over – but with 14 runs needed from it, Tom Curran held his nerve to help Surrey over the line.

It was a frustrating end to a match that Yorkshire should have won.

Despite losing the toss, they restricted their hosts to 265-8. Ballance then struck his second half-century in a row since being dropped by England to put the Vikings on course for victory.

However, after battling hard against some disciplined bowling to make 77, he fell with Yorkshire 22 runs short and there was no way back.

"It was disappointing not to have finished it off," admitted Ballance after the defeat.

"If we could have got a few more boundaries in the last few overs, it would have been an easy victory and a perfect chase, but it did not happen.

"We would have liked to have restricted them to 20 or 30 less, to be honest, and that would have given us a better chance."

The fact that Yorkshire did not do that was mostly due to Curran as well. Before his excellent death bowling, he had also impressed with the bat for the hosts.

Two wickets apiece for Steve Patterson, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Fisher and Karl Carver had reduced Surrey to 187-7 at one stage, before Curran joined forces with Zafar Ansari for a crucial partnership.

Together they added 66 runs to Surrey's total off only 45 balls, with 20-year old Curran making 44 and Ansari eventually unbeaten on 66.

Yorkshire were still favourites at this stage as they set about their modest victory target – but things started badly when Andrew Gale was trapped lbw by Sam Curran for only three.

Alex Lees and Maxwell steadied the ship as the Vikings moved on to 74-1. However, when they both departed – for 28 and 55 respectively – the nerves kicked in.

With the run-rate rising, Jack Leaning was the next to go as he was caught off Gareth Batty for 29, before Andy Hodd picked out Batty off Tom Curran for 25.

Ballance was now the only hope – but Yorkshire needed 50 off 37 balls by now and when he presented Ben Foakes with an easy catch off Ansari, the game was up.

Tim Bresnan, Liam Plunkett and Patterson did their best but Surrey always looked in control as they impressively closed the game out.

Yorkshire are quickly back in action with their next match in Group A of the one-day competition against Worcestershire tomorrow.

Ballance said: "It is a very important game because we have not started badly in this competition and if we can get a win then we are right back in it.

"The games are coming thick and fast and we have seven games in 11 days. That means there is a chance we can get on a roll."