Gillespie still eyes Yorkshire's first victory despite rain

Yorkshire 557 for 6 (Root 213, Bairstow 198, Rashid 60*) lead Surrey 330 by 227 runs
Scorecard

Rain restricted play to only 13.2 overs on the third day of Yorkshire's Specsavers County Championship match against Surrey at Headingley yesterday, so lessening the time available for the title-holders to complete their first win of the season.

Given fair weather tomorrow, however, they are still in a good position to force a victory for they lead by 227 on the first innings with four wickets still in hand if they decide to bat on a little longer.

And Yorkshire coach, Jason Gillespie, said after the call-off that he was confident Yorkshire could go on and win the match.

"We are already over 220 in front and will probably have to bowl pretty soon but it will be up to the captain whether to declare straight away or bat for a bit longer but there is a fair chance to get a few runs as soon as we can."

Gillespie added that he was very pleased with Yorkshire's form in general and was encouraged with what he had seen so far this season. Although they had yet to win a match they had worked very hard against quality team and he was pleased with the progress. "We have to make sure we keep standards up and stay focussed," he said.

Gillespie also revealed that young fast bowler, Matthew Fisher, had suffered a second hamstring injury following the one he sustained in Dubai and that he would miss the start of the T20 campaign.

Surrey wicketkeeper, Ben Foakes, said he thought his side had bowled quite well and had picked up three early wickets but Root and Bairstow were a couple of England players and one just had to accept that they both played a very good innings.

"It became a bit easier once the effects of the new ball had worn off but they still made batting look pretty easy."

Foakes felt there was still every chance of Surrey managing to draw the game. "The rain has helped us so far and if we can get over the new ball we have a good chance of getting a draw," he said.

Play began on time in the morning and in just under an hour before the rain came they added 71 to their overnight score of 486 for 5 to leave them on 557 for 6 off 111.2 overs.

Joe Root started out on 190 and immediately 500 had been posted he completed his double-century off 232 balls with 20 fours and a six and he moved on comfortably to 213 before the industrious Ravi Rampaul had him aiming to leg only to get a leading edge which sailed straight to Gareth Batty at mid-off.

Root finished up with 22 fours and a six off the 242 deliveries he received and he departed to a generous ovation, well satisfied with his dress rehearsal ahead of the Headingley Test match next week.

Yet it was Adil Rashid who played most of the stunning shots in the brief passage of play, three consecutive boundaries of vintage quality at Tom Curran's expense hurrying him on to 55, two of the shots whistling through mid-off and the other being turned backward of square leg.

Root's dismissal made it 547 for 6 in the 108th over to bring the visitors a second bowling bonus point which they hardly merited although both Rampaul and Curran had carried the attack with discipline and control for most of the time.

When Matthew Dunn replaced Curran, Rashid drove back his first ball but Dunn was unable to hold on and the rain quickly followed, leaving Rashid unbeaten on 60 from 85 balls with 11 boundaries.