Yorkshire were the only side to taste victory in the third round of matches in the LV= County Championship as an 8-wicket match haul from Jack Brooks saw off his former county.

by Daniel Grummitt

Archetypal early-season weather put pay to positive results elsewhere, but Yorkshire, with their impressive bowling attack against an injury-depleted Northamptonshire, were able to force the win despite losing half of day three to the Leeds rain and now sit second in the table behind leaders Sussex.

The Tykes won the toss and opted to bat on the first morning at Headingley, but came off second best in the opening exchanges, slipping to 57 for three, leading captain Andrew Gale to admit later to the Yorkshire website that he was beginning to regret having chosen to bat.

However, Gary Ballance and Alex Lees were simply exceptional, sharing 156 for the fourth-wicket, with Ballance going onto make 174 to further cement his place in England’s Test line-up to take on Sri Lanka. They finally declared on 459 for nine, with Andrew Hall to pick of the Northants bowlers with four for 103.

Northamptonshire were then decimated by their former leading bowler Jack Brooks, as he took five for 36 for his second county to, along with the dependable Ryan Sidebottom’s four for 16, skittle them for just 94. It was Brooks’s sixth 5-for in first-class cricket.

Rain looked like it may arrive to save the visitors after wiping out half of the third day after they had been asked to follow-on. However, Brooks and co. returned on the fourth morning to complete the win by an innings and 120 runs. Brooks ended with three for 76 and Sidebottom three for 34, while Adil Rashid ended a dogged tenth-wicket stand of 50 by having Mohammad Azharullah caught behind for 23.

“I think we only played to 80 percent of our potential,” Gale said after the match. “To get 450 was a good effort on that deck. I thought Gary Ballance was outstanding.

“From a bowling point of view, I thought we were a bit ragged yesterday afternoon. But, on the whole, it was pretty ruthless. The top-order didn’t strike with the bat, and there was a few more runs in there. Leesy played well, but the difference in the side was Gary Ballance.

“I think he’s (Gary Ballance) outstanding. He knows his game inside out. It was a tough pitch to bat, but the tempo of his innings…they’re the knocks that win you games.”

Gale also admitted that he may be forced to drop himself for Yorkshire’s next match against Middlesex on Sunday to make way for the expected return of Joe Root from a thumb injury.

Gale has scored just 48 runs thus far this season and said, “There are a few selection issues. I haven’t thought too much about it (dropping myself), but I’m obviously the one who hasn’t got any runs in my last three knocks. Do I leave myself out or not? It’s a decision myself, Jason [Gillespie] and Martyn Moxon have the make.”

Elsewhere in Division One

A century from Nick Compton helped Somerset gain another draw, against defending champions Durham at Chester-le-Street.

Set 337 in the fourth innings by a second innings declaration from Paul Collingwood, Somerset recovered from 92 for four to end on 246 for four, with Compton unbeaten on 100 and Craig Kieswetter on 78. Somerset had earlier surrendered a three-figure first innings advantage by being bowled out for 185 following a Durham innings of 308 that had been set up by a determined knock of 80 from opener Keaton Jennings. Graham Onions and Chris Rushworth took four wickets apiece in the Somerset reply.

There was almost a positive result at Old Trafford, with Warwickshire ending on 95 for five in pursuit of 120 at the end of a dramatic fourth day. A draw looked inevitable at the start of the day, with Lancashire trailing by just 31 runs at the start of their second innings. However, Jeetan Patel again shone for the visitors, taking four for 44 as they struggled to be all out for 196 in spite of a second half-century of the match from Paul Horton. Warwickshire then ran out of time in their run chase, as bad light forced the players off with them needing 25 off 4.3 overs. Varun Chopra ended on 50 not out, with Simon Kerrigan taking four for 38 as Peter Moores moved onto challenges afresh with his side last in Division One.

Division One standings:

Division Two saw four very comfortable draws.

Derbyshire had slightly the better of the game against Hampshire as they made 399 in reply to the visitors’ 328 thanks to a maiden Derbyshire century from new signing Stephen Moore and a knock of 82 from the evergreen Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Hampshire’s new signings had earlier prospered, with Joe Gatting and Will Smith both notching their maiden half-centuries for the club. The match ended with Hampshire on 236 for three in their second innings, with skipper Jimmy Adams top-scoring with 84.

Leicestershire became the last of the 18 counties to get their season underway and they will be pleased with 10 points from a draw against Kent. Anthony Ireland hit his maiden first-class half-century in his 44^th match as the Foxes totalled 333 after being asked to bat. Kent then declared behind on 269 for seven in an effort to force a result, but it was always likely to prove in vain after the first day had been entirely washed out. Greg Smith hit a century and Angus Robson - younger brother of Middlesex’s Sam - 81 as Kent were left needing a hypothetical 324 in the fourth innings. They finished on 89 for four.

The weather heavily influenced both the first and last days in Cardiff as the hosts drew with Gloucestershire. They slipped to 47 for six on day one as Will Gidman and David Payne led the Gloucestershire attack, before recovering to 145 thanks to a last-wicket stand of 73 between Graham Wagg and Michael Hogan. Dean Cosker then took five for 46 in the visitors’ reply but they still made 231 thanks to contributions from their top-order. Will Gidman then took six for 50 in the Glamorgan second innings but Gloucestershire were unable to force a win and the home side ended a disappointing match on 146 for nine.

Another century from England skipper Alastair Cook saw Essex ease to a draw against Surrey. They finished on 258 for four after gaining a first innings lead of 69 by compiling 306 despite no batsman passing 50. 21 year-old fast-bowler Matt Dunn stole the headlines by taking five for 60. Surrey then made 237, with skipper Graeme Smith top-scoring with 65 and Zafar Ansari unable to bat after colliding with a boundary board whilst fielding. Tymal Mills made it two young England fast men to fire by taking four for 45.

Division Two standings:

Fourth Round Fixtures:

Middlesex v Yorkshire at Lord’s

Northamptonshire v Lancashire at Wantage Road

Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire at Trent Bridge

Sussex v Somerset at Hove

Gloucestershire v Essex at Bristol

Hampshire v Surrey at Southampton

Leicestershire v Glamorgan at Grace Road

Worcestershire v Derbyshire at New Road

• About
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Daniel Grummitt

Cricket Writer at World Cricket Badger

Daniel first began writing about cricket in 2011, having been a fan of the game ever since his Grandad introduced him to it at the age of 10.

He worked for CricketWorld.com for almost three years, leading their county and domestic cricket coverage and contributing to a book about the 2012 ICC World Twenty20, before joining the hugely ambitious World Cricket Badger early in 2014.

The first Test that he remembers watching was on Channel 4 - back before the ECB marginalised potential future fans by selling the TV rights to Sky Sports - when England beat Pakistan by an innings and nine runs at Lord’s.

Besides a passion for domestic cricket, he also has an unexplainable interest in all things Zimbabwe cricket!

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