YORKSHIRE hero Rana Naved-ul-Hasan says he will decide today whether he wants to be released from his controversial contract with the rebel Indian Cricket League, which would pave the way for him to feature in next week’s Twenty20 Cup.

The 31-year-old Pakistani bowler clobbered 53 off just 24 balls to help chase down a mammoth 330 with two balls to spare.

He shared an unbroken seventh wicket partnership of 74 in 43 balls with Adil Rashid (39 not out).

Needing 18 off the final over, bowled by former South African international Andre Nel, Rana went six, four, four, four to give Yorkshire some valuable confidence ahead of the 20-over jamboree.

“That was a very good win. We needed it with a big total ahead of Twenty20,” said Rana, who earlier claimed 2-75 from ten overs with the ball.

Rana came to the crease with the score at 256-6 in the 43rd over when Adam Lyth departed for 83 off 72 balls.

They needed 74 to win, and Rana continued: “It was going to be very hard because we didn’t have wickets in hand. It didn’t look like we could chase it, but between me and Rash it was a good partnership.”

If Rana takes up the offer from the ICL to release him from his contract, then it could mean that Yorkshire would not face expulsion from the Champions League should they qualify.

All the whys and wherefores will be decided today, with Rana adding last night: “I will be talking with the ICL and the ECB because they have some conditions.

“I want to win any competition with Yorkshire, and I am very keen to play.”

Yorkshire fell to 95-3 in their chase, with Jacques Rudolph making 37, but Michael Vaughan and Lyth shared a superb fourth wicket partnership of 88 in ten overs to give their side a chance.

Vaughan brought up his 54-ball 50 with a six over wide long-on off Chris Schofield, and he later flicked Stuart Meaker over mid-wicket for his second maximum. The 34-year-old also hit eight boundaries in his 69-ball 74.

Scott Newman had earlier hit 177 off 156 balls to help the hosts, who won the toss and elected to bat, to 329-8. Deon Kruis claimed three late wickets in four balls.

Newman recorded the highest individual score in one-day cricket against Yorkshire, while the burly left-hander also helped Stewart Walters (85) to the club’s best ever second wicket partnership, 211 from 30 overs, in one-day cricket against Yorkshire.

To be fair to the visitors, and Kruis in particular, they did restrict the damage by taking five late wickets for one run in eight balls.