Yorkshire's last home match of the season brought a nail biting finish at Headingley in a game which showed how little there is between all the teams in the championship first division. Essex showed they are worthy champions, not only by beating Yorkshire so easily at Scarborough but today managing to turn round their game with Hampshire to produce another notable victory. The performance of already relegated Warwickshire showed some remarkable contributions, notably from New Zealander Jeetan Patel whose century and six wickets in the second innings showed what an excellent overseas player he has been. Sadly Yorkshire's army of 'here today, gone tomorrow' foreign contingent, including their latest short term import, contributed little to the overall picture.
However this was a game to savour with the twists and turns which only a four day game can provide for the cricket connoisseur. Warwickshire under new captain Jonathon Trott won the toss and decided to bat on Tuesday. A decision which surprised many, particularly when they had slumped to 49-6, thanks to some useful bowling by Yorkshire's all seam attack. Ian Bell played as only he can, a backs to the wall player if there ever was one. His workmanlike fifty set the scene for Patel, coming in at number eight, to play his shots from the word go and he cruised to an admirable century in just 112 balls with seventeen fours.
Matthew Fisher returned after two wickets in his first spell and dismissed Patel lbw as soon as he reached his century then finished off the tail, including the other Ryan Sidebottom (an Australian version) to complete best bowling figures of 5-56. A good reward for his rather belated re-call to the first eleven after a difficult season for him.
We missed most of the Yorkshire first innings on day two deciding instead to enjoy the sunshine at Riverside and some good batting from Durham against a rather new look Sussex bowling attack as already described by John. I agree entirely with both John and Sir Ian Botham (another first for me) in their comments on the departure of Coughlin to Notts, yet another team which seems unwilling to encourage their own youngsters.
Back at Headingley for day three with a smallish crowd present due in no small part to the weather forecast which had predicted rain for most of the day. We took our chance expecting only a short period of play and were rewarded with a full day and no rain whatsoever. This time the bowling hero was the dependable Steve Patterson. He managed to dismiss Bell cheaply and eventually Trott for 59 when he looked capable of a really big innings. He followed this with the wickets of Lamb and Patel to finish with typically economical figures of 26-7-46-4. Warwickshire all out for 251 leaving Yorkshire with what seemed like an easy enough target of 175 to win.
Not so, after an early wicket for Sidebottom number two, enter Jeetan Patel yet again. Yorkshire's bowling attack with five seamers and no spinner provided little variety and Patel was soon in action with the ball dismissing first Lees and then the West Indian Brathwaite with the last ball of the day.
Close of play at 56-3 and Yorkshire in dire trouble, still facing the possibility of relegation with just one more match to play next week away to champions Essex.
An expectant fourth day crowd turned up to enjoy the sunshine hoping that skipper Gary Ballance would play another fine innings, of which there have been many this season, to seal a home victory.
It was not to be as he went lbw to Patel for 21 and Yorkshire were 71-4 soon to be 86-5 when Leaning after playing his first aggresive shot against the spinner was brilliantly caught by Ian Bell at short leg. Bresnan tried to hit Patel but only skied him to Thomson at deep mid wicket and Bresnan plodded off with yet another duck to this season's collection.
The crowd were very quiet now, aware that defeat was staring Yorkshire in the face, and it got quieter still when Hodd, who had just begun to play a few shots after a very quiet start, was out to a fine low slip catch by that man again Patel. 96-7 now and the game looked all over, indeed one or two long standing members were seen to leave the ground in disgust. Enter Mr Reliable, Steve Patterson, to join the youthful Matthew Fisher, no mug with the bat himself.
Patel wheeled away at the pavilion end, bowling maiden after maiden with now five wickets to his name and everyone feeling he might end up with eight. The pace bowlers were alternated at the soon to be demolished rugby stand end. Patterson decided to up the tempo, mainly off the pace men, while just keeping Patel at bay. Fisher too played his part looking confident in his more defensive role.
Gradually the runs ticked away, Patterson hit some splendid shots through to the off side boundary and suddenly the crowd responded to this remarkable change in fortune.
They pair received a standing ovation at the lunch interval with a fifty partnership under their belts and after the interval with the sunshine replaced by cloud cover it was downhill all the way for the Yorkshire pair. Patel, who bowled unchanged to the bitter end somehow seemed to lose his accuracy and bowled two wide balls down the leg side, one went for four byes, the other for four leg byes. How the crowd roared now! Soon the scores were level, but more drama to come as Fisher was finally out caught by Bell at short leg for fifteen runs, but more importantly he had batted out for 98 minutes.
Patterson soon ended the game with a four taking him to an admirable 44 not out, making top score just above extras with 40. Patel who had toiled away manfully ended with figures of 28-17-50-6.
Together with his century this should have made him man of the match without question but for the Yorkshire fans there was only one man of the match - Steven Patterson, who received a tremendous ovation as he left the field. Yorkshire won by two wickets and make rapid progress up the championship table, although all still to play for next week.
The celebrations continued with the real Ryan Sidebottom, injured for this game, appearing on the field at Headingley for the last time to be greeted by all his team mates and the ecstatic supporters. A marvellous ending not only to the game itself but to a wonderful career by one of the all time greats of Yorkshire cricket.
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