Lyth lights up run-glut at Taunton
Adam Lyth continued his hugely impressive start to the County Championship season as Yorkshire built a strong position against Somerset at Taunton
19-May-2010
Adam Lyth continued his hugely impressive start to the County Championship season as Yorkshire built a strong position against Somerset at Taunton.
The 22-year-old left-hander followed up his first-innings century with 93 off 170 balls, including nine fours, as his side closed day three on 154 for two and leading by 182. That made Lyth the leading scorer in Division One with 622 runs at an average of 62.
Somerset had earlier been bowled out for 377, Arul Suppiah falling one short of a hundred and Jos Buttler scoring 52. Adil Rashid claimed 4 for 85 and David Wainwright 3 for 48. But, while the pitch is offering some slow turn, it will need to change significantly in nature for either side to force a win on the final day.
In the corresponding fixture last season Somerset successfully chased a target of 476 so Yorkshire captain Jacques Rudolph, who played in that game, is unlikely to be thinking in terms of a generous declaration.
Lyth was out in the last over of the day, lbw sweeping at Murali Kartik, and was clearly frustrated at letting the opportunity of a second century in the match pass him by. But he had again demonstrated his emerging talent, albeit on a flat wicket.
Anthony McGrath was unbeaten on 38 and the only previous second-innings wicket to fall was that of Joe Sayers, also leg before playing across a full-length ball from Alfonso Thomas for 12.
Somerset had begun the day on 226 for 4 in reply to 405, with Suppiah on 78. He and Buttler batted sensibly for the first hour and the opener looked certain to reach three figures. But on 99 Suppiah pushed forward to a ball from Wainwright that gripped and turned, forcing him to edge a catch to Rudolph at slip. He had faced 210 balls and hit 14 fours.
Buttler followed up his maiden century at the Rose Bowl last week with another mature contribution. The 19-year-old reached his 50 off 69 balls, with seven fours, but then top-edged a short ball from Wainwright to Lyth at mid-wicket.
Rashid removed Ben Phillips, who looked unhappy with his lbw decision, and Thomas, caught behind off a leg-break as Yorkshire pressed for a first-innings advantage. It was as good as secured when Oliver Hannon-Dalby nipped a ball back at Peter Trego to trap him in front and, although last man Charl Willoughby lofted a defiant six off Rashid, he was soon bowled by Wainwright, the ball just flicking the off bail.
