An opening partnership of 121 in 22 overs between left-handers Jacques Rudolph and Joe Sayers saw Gloucestershire comfortably beaten by Yorkshire in the NatWest Pro40 League at Headingley last night.

The eight-wicket win ensured Yorkshire will not finish bottom of the Division One table.

Rudolph's unbeaten 72 and Sayers' 55 saw the home side chase down Gloucestershire CCC's 173 target with little trouble.

The 50 came up in the 10th over and Gloucestershire were under so much pressure that by the 18th over they had called upon seven bowlers.

The partnership was broken by young pace bowler David Payne, who had Sayers caught behind attempting to cut.

Adam Lyth pulled former Yorkshire off-spinner Richard Dawson for six but then fell in Payne's next over.

However, Yorkshire were rapidly homing in on their target and skipper Anthony McGrath kept Rudolph company until the winning runs were hit with 8.5 overs to go.

Steve Patterson and James Lee took three wickets apiece and fellow paceman Lee Hodgson claimed his first two wickets for the county.

Ajmal Shahzad bowled Marshall in the third over with a fine delivery, before Patterson struck twice in the space of four balls to reduce Gloucestershire to 29 for three.

Alex Gidman hit him straight into the hands of Lyth on the square leg boundary and Will Porterfield was well caught by Rudolph at short cover.

Gloucestershire gradually recovered through a 70-stand in 13 overs between James Franklin and Taylor. Hodgson deceived Taylor into giving a catch to McGrath at cover and Gloucestershire were 105 for five when Patterson returned to have David Brown caught behind by Gerard Brophy.

Franklin was caught behind off Lee, who bowled Dawson, while Stephen Adshead fell to Hodgson.

Ajmal dismissed Ian Saxelby with the final delivery of his second spell and Lee wrapped things up with two balls remaining when Gloucestershire CCC's Jon Lewis was taken on the boundary edge by Wainwright.