Rashid puts Tykes on course for win

ADIL RASHID continued his stunning form with the bat to put Yorkshire on course for victory against county champions Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

The 25-year-old all-rounder added an unbeaten 68 off 104 balls to previous LV County Championship scores of 50 not out, 36 not out, 180 and nought this summer as the visitors closed day two on 318- 7 from 101 overs in reply to 128, a lead of 190.

Rashid shared in two of three partnerships in the seventies within the Yorkshire line-up yesterday, adding 78 for the fifth wicket with Gary Ballance, who made 52, and 75 for the seventh with Tim Bresnan (38).

Openers Adam Lyth and Joe Sayers had set Yorkshire on their way with a first-wicket stand of 77 before lunch.

Lyth made 43, but both fell to Irishman Boyd Rankin late in the morning session.

Rashid has started the season like a house on fire having been given the added responsibility of batting at number six.

But skipper Andrew Gale, who made an encouraging 40 yesterday, also believes an improvement in his training regime and a settled personal life are benefitting player and county.

“A good woman puts us all on the straight and narrow!” said Gale.

“He’s got a lot more consistency in his life, and in his training. It’s no surprise to us that he’s started the season the way he has.

“The added responsibility seems to have done wonders for him, batting number six.

“The way he’s gone about his training since Christmas has been fantastic. He’s really knuckled down.

“We’ve always known the talent he’s got. When you look at some of the shots he plays, he’s definitely one of the more talented batsmen in our team.

But it’s about how many runs and wickets you get. We’re starting to reap the rewards of his training.”

Rashid’s contribution, including eight fours, was absolutely crucial to Yorkshire’s position of strength in this match.

When he came in at 147-4, the lead was only 19 and Warwickshire had hopes of restricting the damage done by some wretched first day batting.

New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel (3-37 from 20 overs) was causing problems, but he navigated a difficult period with Ballance for company and prospered against the second new ball alongside Bresnan, who returned to county colours in place of Rich Pyrah having been left out by England.

Warwickshire actually bowled pretty well for the majority of play yesterday, only letting things slip with the second new ball during the latter stages.

Their quartet of pace bowlers in Chris Wright, Chris Woakes, Rankin and Rikki Clarke beat the bat regularly even though they were not aided by as much swing as there was on offer during Wednesday’s first day.

The Bears also dropped three catches. Tom Milnes dropped Lyth at point off Clarke on 41 and Gale was dropped by Darren Maddy in the same position off Woakes, who then carried a Gale pull off Rankin over the ropes for his second six on 19.

SCORECARD

Warwickshire v Yorkshire
At Edgbaston.
Overnight: Warwickshire 128 (J O
Troughton 65 no; L E Plunkett 5-
32).Yorkshire 11-0.

Yorkshire First Innings Close
A Lyth c Milnes b Rankin ...................43
J J Sayers c Ambrose b Rankin ..........24
P A Jaques c Ambrose b Patel ...........25
A W Gale c Clarke b Patel ..................40
G S Ballance c Ambrose b Patel ........52
A U Rashid not out ..........................68
A J Hodd lbw b Woakes ......................9
T T Bresnan c Ambrose b Rankin .......38
L E Plunkett not out ...........................1
Extras (b1 lb4 w1 nb12 pens 0) 18
Total 7 wkts (101 overs) ....318
Fall: 1-77 2-80 3-122 4-147 5-225 6-
239 7-314
To Bat: R M Pyrah, R J Sidebottom, S A
Patterson.
Bowling: Woakes 23-8-60-1. Wright 24-
6-74-0. Clarke 11-0-49-0. Patel 20-7-37-
3. Rankin 16-2-69-3. Milnes 7-1-24-0.