Yorkshire v Lancashire: Final Day

A five wicket haul in the second innings by Lancashire’s Captain Glen Chapple sealed victory for the visitors. 

Yorkshire started the morning on 136-6 and took to the crease needing another 148 runs to win.

But the Tykes stumbled early in the session when Ryan Sidebottom was caught by Tom Smith on 16, after a delivery from Chapple.

Andrew Gale went soon afterwards when he was bowled lbw by Kyle Hogg on 19.

Adil Rashid and Ajmal Shahzad established a creditable ninth wicket stand of 43 until Shahzad was caught by Gareth Cross on 22. Rashid ended the innings on 48 not out.

Shahzad’s departure left the game on a knife edge, but Lancashire wrapped up the match when nightwatchman, Richard Pyrah was unable to match his first innings century and was bowled lbw by Gary Keedy on 18.

Yorkshire ended the innings on 260.  

Both teams were applauded as they walked back to the pavilion.

Yorkshire’s fighting display does nothing to ease their relegation peril. They currently languish seventh in the LV County Championship on 92 points, just 17 points above Worcestershire who have two games in hand over the Tykes.

One crumb of comfort for Yorkshire is the England Cricket Board’s decision to dock eight points from fellow relegation contenders Hampshire, for the poor quality of the pitch at their home ground, the Rose Bowl, in Southampton. This leaves Hampshire on 39 points, 36 points adrift of eighth place Worcestershire.

Like their indifferent finish to the Twenty20 League campaign, where Yorkshire remained outside play-off contention throughout the season, they have also seen their chances of progressing to the semi-finals of the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition rapidly diminish.

They currently lie fifth in group A of the CB40 table on four points, six points below leaders Middlesex, but the Tykes have a game in hand over the southerners and have an opportunity to catch up when they when they play away to Sussex on Wednesday.

RIchard McAllister