Advantage Yorkshire

posted by John Winn

Followers of the blog will be well aware how much I enjoy championship cricket and a day like today is one for filing away in the memory bank to be brought out when the winter seems unending and the new season never gets any nearer. Of course it is enjoyable from time to time to see one's own team rack up a big score and beat the opposition out of sight but for me the real pleasure is when there is a reasonable balance between bat and ball and for two days that is what we have had at Headingley and with no worries about possible rain interruptions.

At quarter past five yesterday Glamorgan were all out and at exactly the same time today the tenth Yorkshire wicket fell but thanks largely to a to a ninth wicket stand of 54 between Sidebottom and Patterson ,Yorkshire had gained a lead of 68 and thanks to their slower over rate Glamorgan had 11 overs to face before the close, rather than the six Yorkshire faced yesterday evening. The other big difference is that in those eleven overs Patterson took two wickets to put Yorkshire very much on the front foot when play resumes tomorrow.

Such a summary of the day masks its ups and downs for Yorkshire did not start well losing Root and Jacques for modest scores. They recovered through Lyth and Gale with assistance from Ballance and McGrath then lost four for 25 before 'Siddy' and 'Patto' courageously took on the fiery Wagg and the new ball to gain a lead that had not seemed likely to be so large when Rafiq and McGrath were out in quick order after tea.

Patterson is having a splendid match for in addition to his runs today he took four wickets yesterday and was on a hat trick late  this evening. He will no doubt be raring to go tomorrow morning.

 Enjoyable as this match is it can not be taken in isolation for there are two other games being played the outcome of which may have a significant bearing on how the table stands at six o'clock on Friday evening. Last night I wrote how Hampshire had the upper hand with Essex but the balance has shifted back today with Hampshire's late order not getting the runs that might have been expected of them this morning and Essex finishing the day with a lead of 168 with only two down. Meanwhile Kent have probably had the better of the day against leaders Derbyshire but even here a dramatic last few overs saw three Kent wickets fall for one run and their overnight lead is 120 with seven second innings in hand. With the weather settled there seems little likelihood of  a draw in either of these two games or at Headingley. Both days have seen excellent crowds at HQ and I would be very surprised if most of them do not come back for more tomorrow and with the pitch playing a mixed bag of tricks from time to time who can say there might not be more twists in the tale before stumps.