Gale's 99 secures Yorkshire a draw

Neither the rain nor Jonathan Bairstow came to Yorkshire's rescue on the final day, but a fine innings of 99 from Andrew Gale, aided by a dogged Joe Sayers, ensured Nottinghamshire were denied victory at Scarborough. Yorkshire may have felt aggrieved at being deprived of the chance to ram home their advantage on the first day, but after that the visitors dominated the match without securing the victory that would have put them near the top of the table again.

Yorkshire began the day on 14 for 1 in the follow-on, exactly 150 runs behind Nottinghamshire. Anthony McGrath began positively by driving the fourth ball of the day, from Ryan Sidebottom, through covers for four. He did not look comfortable, though, and edged a couple of balls just short of the slips. Sayers, on 3, was dropped off a low chance by the wicketkeeper, Chris Read, a rare occurrence, and it is said of the Scarborough pitch that on the final day the keeper and slips need to stand closer.

McGrath made only 9 before he walked into a straight ball from Andre Adams and was trapped lbw, leaving Yorkshire 31 for 2. This brought together the two young left-handers, Sayers and Gale, and in their differing manners they constructed the partnership that was to do most to earn Yorkshire a draw that they did not really deserve. Sayers played the anchor role, getting particularly bogged down in the early twenties, while Gale played a positive innings, noted for its good driving. He reached his 50 before lunch with a drive for six off Samit Patel, and it took him just 68 balls.

Yorkshire had recovered to 115 for 2 at lunch, but then after the interval Sayers, quite out of character, drove at the second ball he faced before settling in, and was caught at third slip off Ryan Sidebottom. Bairstow failed, scoring only an edged four before, perhaps bothered by Sidebottom going around the wicket, he went for a loose drive outside his off stump and was also caught in the slips. Suddenly Yorkshire were in possible danger again at 135 for 4.

The obligatory rain arrived just after 2.00pm, but this time it did not last long and only 30 minutes were lost. With Gerard Brophy for company, Gale moved steadily towards his century and was on 92 when an early tea was taken owing to rain. This may have affected him, as on 99 he threw away the century he deserved. He seemed quite nonplussed by a slow high-bouncing long-hop outside off stump, which he first decided to hit out of sight. He ended up lobbing an easy catch to midwicket. He had faced 143 balls and hit 16 fours and a six.

But Gale had done his part, and Yorkshire had now avoided the innings defeat and still had five wickets left. Brophy and Tim Bresnan batted without trouble or undue pressure, the former reaching his 50 off 105 balls, upon which Yorkshire declared 68 runs ahead and the match, damaged by rain, was drawn. Sidebottom had been Nottinghamshire's best bowler again, taking three more wickets to add to his five in the first innings, although he seemed to tire towards the end.