YORKSHIRE Vikings kept their hopes of reaching the T20 Blast knockout stages alive with a stunning two-run victory over Birmingham Bears at Headingley.

The visitors lost six wickets for 13 runs in the final 13 balls, with Adam Lyth the hero after a dramatic save on the boundary.

Having won the toss and opting to bat, Lyth hinted at a huge total for the Vikings as he took 11 from Rikki Clarke’s opening over, but the home side faltered once the opener fell to former Tyke Oliver Hannon-Dalby four balls later.

David Willey (10) departed soon after as Hannon-Dalby struck again, and captain Alex Lees and Kane Williamson struggled to find the boundary as the hosts ended their opening six-over powerplay on just 39-2.

The introduction of spin by Birmingham saw Lees threaten to break the shackles before he was bowed for 23 by Josh Poysden, leaving Williamson and Gary Ballance to rebuild.

The pair batted watchfully in the most part as they added 78 in 59 balls for the fourth wicket, with New Zealand captain Williamson breaking loose on occasion as he hit four boundaries and a single swept six.

Ballance – who was recalled to the England Test squad on Thursday – acted as the perfect foil as he accumulated 33 from 29 balls before being bowled by Clarke, but a six from Tim Bresnan’s first ball maintained some the momentum of the Vikings innings.

He and Williamson (48) both eventually fell in the final over, though some good running by Liam Plunkett and Jack Leaning boosted the Yorkshire total to a competitive 156-6.

Having ended the innings with some momentum, the Vikings made the perfect start to the defending their score as Willey trapped Sam Hain lbw without scoring as he looked to leave a swinging delivery from the England star.

Ian Bell and Will Porterfield added 51 for the second wicket as the visitors fought back in the powerplay, but the introduction of Adil Rashid saw the Bears skipper stumped for 30 in the seventh over.

Australia wicketkeeper Matthew Wade followed his captain back to the dug-out in Rashid’s next over, but Laurie Evans added some impetus to the chase with a bright 37.

His stand of 60 with Porterfield looked to have swung the game Birmingham’s way, but Porterfield’s departure for 48 in the 18th over sparked an almighty collapse.

Ateeq Javid was left with the task of hitting a four to tie the game from Bresnan’s final ball, but Lyth appeared from nowhere on the long-on boundary to save two runs and secure the unlikeliest of wins.