YORKSHIRE Vikings took a crumb of comfort out of a dismal campaign by beating North Group leaders Birmingham Bears by eight wickets in their final NatWest T20 match at Headingley tonight.

The Vikings performed well with the ball to restrict the North Division winners to a total of 145 despite stand-in captain Alex Lees having lost the toss.

Will Rhodes picked up three wickets while youngsters Ben Coad and Matthew Fisher took two wickets of their own, with Fisher able to celebrate the prized scalp of New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum for just six.

The bowling display marked just the second occasion Yorkshire have bowled a side out in this season’s competition, with Rich Pyrah also taking two wickets on his return to the side following a three-week absence.

In reply, the home side lost Rhodes early as he picked out mid-on off the bowling of Ricki Clarke, but Lees and Jack Leaning came together to share in a stand of 104 in 76 deliveries.

Lees struck his first half-century of the campaign as he went through to his 50 in 38 balls while Leaning was slightly more circumspect as he looked to pick the gaps and rotate the strike.

Skipper Lees eventually fell for 63 as he was lbw to Jeetan Patel, but Leaning finished unbeaten on a career-best 60 as Yorkshire sealed victory with three balls to spare.