Intermittent rain and a series of scoreboard-stopping power cuts made for a bizarre day of cricket at North Marine Road today but Yorkshire’s crucial constant won them the day as Jacques Rudolph continued his imperious early-season form at Scarborough as the Tykes eased to victory over Northamptonshire in the Clydesdale Bank 40.

The South African glided to 83, getting there in 78 balls before he was eventually removed to conclude a wonderful week of batting.

Rudolph made an unbeaten 101 against Essex last Sunday and followed up with a career-best 228, again without dismissal, against Durham in the LV= County Championship at Headingley.

"I always seem to get a lot of runs in April and May," said Rudolph after the game. "I’ve tapered off after that before so that’s my challenge for this season, to sustain myself.

"I have to manage my mental space, I play cricket 12 months a year, which I can promise is not easy, but when I come back into the dressing room here it always gives me a lot of energy."

Anthony McGrath gave Rudolph vital support with an excellent knock of 77 after Andrew Gale had provided a rapid 35 off 25 balls to launch the innings into life as the Tykes romped to a score of 240 off 30 overs.

Two torrential showers made the weather Yorkshire’s only real enemy as downpours early in both innings threatened to wash the contest away - a result that would have suited the visitors after they were reduced to four for three early in their reply in pursuit of a revised target of 154 off 16 overs.

Power failures across the ground made the equation more complicated as the scoreboard stalled to leave Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale visibly perplexed about the exact nature of his side’s task.

The implosion of the visitors' top order made the confusion immaterial, Ben Sanderson getting among the wickets with incredible hand speed to complete the caught and bowled dismissal of David Sales as he looked to drive the bowler straight back down the ground.

Rob White smashed a sensational 69 off just 47 balls to keep his side just about alive but once he had gone two further wickets fell in the same Richard Pyrah over as Northants were eventually bowled out in the final over of the game for just 118, falling 35 runs short of victory.