Yorkshire v Lancashire (County Championship) : Day Four

YORKSHIRE failed by only two runs to avoid the followon in the Roses match at Headingley yesterday but they still managed to hold out for a comfortable draw as Otleyborn Joe Sayers at last found some decent batting form.

The left-handed opener, who had accumulated only 43 runs in the previous three Championship matches, calmly prevented a second-innings collapse by constructing an unbeaten 75 off 168 balls with 11 boundaries.

It was the second highest score of the former Oxford Blue's county career and beaten only by his maiden century against Leicestershire at Scarborough last July.

Thanks to Sayers and another fine innings from the dependable Anthony McGrath, who hit 81 not out in an unbroken second-wicket stand, Yorkshire were able to declare at 177 for one, 25 in front, to end the rain-hit match in which 135 overs had been lost to the weather.

There was a 14-over delay at the start of the final day before Yorkshire's first-innings last-wicket pair of Jason Gillespie and Deon Kruis were able to resume their gallant stand, which was already worth 63, requiring a further 16 to put paid to Lancashire's best chance of winning, which was to enforce the follow-on.

Kruis caused a few flutters by waving his bat at several deliveries from Glen Chapple and Tom Smith but each batsman managed a boundary before Gillespie edged an away swinger from Smith to second slip, where Smith held a low catch.

The last-gasp stand of 76 was the highest of the innings, which was a sad reflection on some of the earlier batsmen, and it lasted for 96 minutes, Gillespie making 45 from 109 balls with seven fours and Kruis an unbeaten 28 from 65 deliveries with three boundaries.

There was a minimum of 73 overs remaining when Yorkshire began their second innings and a win for Lancashire just about seemed on as the out-of-touch Matthew Wood did not use his feet against Kyle Hogg and was caught behind.

But with Sayers gaining in confidence and McGrath again in complete command, a draw became inevitable and Yorkshire were already close to safety when Sayers completed his half-century off 112 balls with seven fours.

McGrath moved to his second half-century of the match after tea and he just had time before the close for him to pass 500 Championship runs in only four matches. In all, he faced 150 balls and struck nine fours.

Richard Dawson, Yorkshire's 12th man in the Roses game, left the match yesterday to captain Yorkshire Seconds in their one-day friendly with Durham Seconds at Hartlepool. Dawson had intended to bowl himself but the off-spinner never managed to get on because Durham were fired out for 26 in 11.4 overs, Ajmal Shahzad capturing six for 11 and Australian Mitch Claydon four for 14. Yorkshire went on to win by seven wickets.

Scorecard

Yorkshire v Lancashire at Headingley

Overnight: Lancashire 417-9 dec (M B Loye 138,
S G Law 101). Yorkshire 252-9 (A McGrath 64;
T C Smith 4-55).

Yorkshire First Innings
J N Gillespie c Smith b Chapple 45
G J Kruis not out 28
Extras (b4 lb4 nb14 pens 0) 22
Total (100 overs) 265
Fall: 1-34 2-46 3-99 4-156 5-157 6-164 7-
181 8-185 9-189
Bowling: Cork 19-2-58-1. Chapple 24-9-58-1.
Smith 25-12-57-4. Hogg 14-5-44-1. Keedy 18-
3-40-3.

Yorkshire Second Innings
M J Wood c Sutton b Hogg 14
J J Sayers not out 75
A McGrath not out 81
Extras (b6 lb1 pens 0) 7
Total 1 wkt dec (59 overs) 177
Fall: 1-30
Did Not Bat: M J Lumb, D S Lehmann, C White,
J N Gillespie, T T Bresnan, G L Brophy, J A R
Blain, G J Kruis.
Total Bonus Pts: Yorkshire 5 Lancashire 8
Bowling: Chapple 9-3-23-0. Smith 9-1-24-0.
Hogg 9-1-30-1. Cork 9-2-18-0. Keedy 14-0-42-
0. Hodge 6-0-20-0. Chilton 2-0-12-0. Sutcliffe
1-0-1-0.

Yorkshire (9pts) drew with Lancs (12pts)