Bairstow stands alone for Yorkshire

Yorkshire will probably have to look for either the rain or their newest batting recruit Jonny Bairstow to save them from defeat against Nottinghamshire on the final day of this match, as on current evidence none of the other top-order batsmen seem capable of doing so.

Bairstow, in only his fifth championship match, stood like a giant among pygmies as fine Notts bowling scythed through his team-mates, and he emerged unbeaten from the ruins with a superb unbeaten 84 off 137 balls as his team was forced to follow on, on another day of remarkably inconsistent weather.

Yorkshire began the day on a depressing 25 for 2, and the morning's play continued this trend. The only chink of light for the home side was the innings of David Wainwright, a spin-bowling all-rounder who as yet has been unable to secure a regular place in the team. Promoted from No.9 to do the job of nightwatchman, he did his best to show his batting ability. He plays straight, and quickly made a classic drive through extra cover for four in the first over of the day, bowled by Andre Adams. He soon overtook Joe Sayers, and as the pair took the total to 61 Yorkshire's prospects looked hopeful.

Then, however, Sayers pushed at a ball from Adams, who had changed ends, outside the off stump and was caught at the wicket for 17. This began a sorry middle-order slide. Wainwright, after an innings of application, was caught at second slip off the same bowler for 29, and one run later Andrew Gale fell the same way, playing a 'nothing' shot. Adams' nippy medium-pace brought him three wickets for only six runs off seven overs from the Trafalgar Square end. Gerard Brophy joined the collapse by slashing a ball from Ryan Sidebottom straight to point, and at lunch Yorkshire were facing disaster at 81 for 6.

After lunch for a while, Jonny Bairstow and Tim Bresnan brought a new determined impression to the Yorkshire batting, intent on bringing about a recovery. But it took one superb ball from Sidebottom to nip their partnership in the bud, as Bresnan had no answer to a scorcher that took the edge of his bat and flew to first slip. Just after two o'clock, though, with the score 102 for 7, a heavy downpour struck the ground.

In the old days, that would have been the end of play for the day. But even though most of the Scarborough ground is recognisable from photographs of the 1930s, they have recently installed new drainage, and remarkably less than two hours later the players were back on the field. Yorkshire no doubt regretted that development on this occasion. In the very first over after the break Adil Rashid had edged another fine ball from the ex-Yorkshire seamer Sidebottom, also to first slip, and Yorkshire were now down and almost out at 105 for 8.

Only now did Yorkshire begin to fight back. Bairstow showed again that he has inherited the fighting spirit of his father, and in addition more patience than the famous David possessed. He waited for the right ball and hit it well, as he showed with successive cut and pulled boundaries off Adams. Matthew Hoggard also proved stubborn, and the pair added 44 before Hoggard swatted a catch into the covers.

The last man Dion Kruis did even better, unfurling some unexpectedly fine strokes, especially through the covers off Franks. Helped rather than hindered by the now traditional field set to keep Bairstow away from the strike, he scored so fluently that he was to finish with 37 off 39 balls. In the meantime Bairstow reached his 50 with a superb off-driven six off Luke Fletcher, and indulged in some skilful and productive reverse sweeps, several of which ran for four.

When Sidebottom returned with the second new ball, Kruis cut his first ball effortlessly for four, but later in the over edged a catch into the gully. The pair had added 82 runs to take the total to 231, and Bairstow was left stranded on 84, his career best. His career average is now 79, after five matches, and most of his runs have been scored in adversity. He is definitely a player to watch. Sidebottom, with five wickets, and Adams, with four, took the bowling honours.

Yorkshire were forced to follow on, and there was time in seven overs for them to lose the wicket of Jacques Rudolph, caught at second slip in the final over aiming an irresponsible slash at a ball from Sidebottom.. Certainly Yorkshire need to demand more from this greatly talented but currently disappointing player. They will need much more discipline from their other batsmen tomorrow to save the match, if play goes the distance.