Andrew Gale smashed a blistering 146 not out as Yorkshire’s preparations for Twenty20 continued with an entertaining warm-up win over his former club Cleckheaton at Moorend last night.

The Yorkshire skipper, named his county’s man of the match, underpinned an imposing 242-5 with a series of fours and sixes, many of them straight down the ground.

Joe Root also added an inventive late 40, while new signing David Miller chipped in with 23.

Moin Ashraf, who took five wickets in the nail-biting Bradford League defeat for Lightcliffe against Cleck-heaton on Saturday, led the way with three wickets for the Tykes.

But Richard Whitehurst’s belligerent 62 ensured the hosts replied with a more than respectable 151-8.

South African left-hander Miller batted at number three after Gale had opened with Australian Phil Jaques.

Miller’s competitive debut for the White Rose will come in tomorrow’s Friends Life t20 opener against Durham at Headingley.

“I’m looking forward to my time at Yorkshire. It’s a nice challenge for me. The move came about around three weeks ago when I was chatting to Jason Gillespie,” explained the affable left-hander.

“I know Dizzy from the IPL last year. I didn’t play a game for the Kings XI Punjab but he was bowling coach. I guess that is part of the reason why I’m here.”

Miller will be available for the whole competition, although he could fly home in between the group stages and the quarter-finals due to South Africa A commitments.

He has played 16 one-day and half as many Twenty20 internationals for South Africa, although his last 20-over appearance for the Proteas was last October.

And with the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka taking place in September, he knows his month at Headingley will be crucial if he is book his seat on the plane.

“Every game is so important, definitely,” added Miller, who also contributed a direct hit run out to his night’s work. “I want to nail down a place in international cricket, and any time I can put a performance in, it can only help my cause.”

After losing a couple of early wickets, Cleckheaton counter-attacked thanks to some middle order power from Whitehurst and former Yorkshire bowler James Lee, who added 36.

The pair took a liking to Azeem Rafiq’s off-spin, although Bradfordian Adil Rashid encouraged with a couple of wickets.