A Lyth alive o

 posted by John Winn

Midway through the afternoon's play at Headingley on Thursday Adam Lyth, not for the first time this season, dropped a slip catch, a mistake sufficient to arouse one member to demand Lyth's  removal from the field. Who should effect this removal was not made clear, Lyth stayed and shortly afterwards held onto a difficult chance and was engulfed by his team mates led by fellow 'slipper' Joe Root. Shortly after five thirty Lyth opened the batting with George Hill, hit his first ball for four and at close of play had added three more to his total. 

When with my friend Arthur Bartle I left the ground at 3:30 the next day Lyth was still at the crease and nearing his century which he achieved in due course and when rain came to shorten the day he was 118 not out, a score he increased to 145 before being fifth out on Saturday. With good support from Harry Brook, Lyth had  helped Yorkshire to a lead of over 200. This looked like a winning margin when Thomson had three bears back in the pavilion in quick time leaving the county champions 57 for 3 at stumps. Alas, from a Yorkshire viewpoint wickets have been hard to come by so far today and as I type, just after two o'clock, Hain and Rhodes have added 124 for the fourth wicket and reduced the deficit to 56*.  A week ago Yorkshire denied Lancashire by stubborn fourth day resistance, will they be on the receiving end of similar obduracy today? 

After today's matches, which complete a busy schedule for the eighteen counties, T20 takes over for three weeks before the red ball comes back for just one round of matches on June 12th, the first of four cameo appearances before resuming normal service in September. Devotees of this form of the game are expected to console themselves that this is better than last year. Not so easy if you are a Yorkshire member who does not want to travel to Scarborough, a 220 mile round trip if you live in Todmorden. The next championship cricket at Headingley is on Monday September 12th, a tad short of four months. Crackers. 

* now just 13 and still only three down.