Chilton and Sutcliffe dominate Yorkshire

Close Yorkshire 417 (White 110*, Kruis 35) lead Lancashire 243 for 2 (Chilton 130*, Bresnan 2-56) by 174 runs
Scorecard

A record stand of 223 between Mark Chilton and Iain Sutcliffe gave Lancashire a brilliant start in their first innings response to Yorkshire's 417 all out. In what was another gritty and hard-fought day at Old Trafford, Lancashire were made to work hard for their runs, as Yorkshire's bowlers toiled valiantly, watched by a decently-sized crowd.

Yorkshire bowled with admirable intent throughout the afternoon, and had to wait until the 74th over before Sutcliffe became their first victim. Tim Bresnan pushed one across Sutcliffe's defence when he was seven short of his hundred, feathering an outside edge to a delighted Ismail Dawood. Sutcliffe and Chilton's stand broke the previous best opening stand in Roses matches, 181 between Harry Makepeace and Reg Spooner, which had stood since 1912. Chilton, whose excellent innings was his second Roses hundred of the year and his third of the season, remained unbeaten on 130.

Earlier in the day, Yorkshire's tail wagged with typical obduracy to frustrate Lancashire's bowlers. Starting the day unbeaten on 71, Yorkshire's captain, Craig White, lost his overnight partner Richard Dawson to the ninth ball of the day. Glen Chapple, the pick of Lancashire's bowlers, trapped Dawson leg before and consistently bowled a full length all morning.

White then combined with Tim Bresnan, during a dogged partnership of 26. Bresnan's wicket was quickly followed by Chris Silverwood's, as Lancashire threatened to run through Yorkshire's tail. But an entertaining and explosive stand of 56 for the tenth wicket, at better than a run a ball, between White and Deon Kruis, ensured the visiting fans had something to cheer.

Kruis's innings was particularly brutal, containing four fours and three monstrous sixes in a knock lasting just 28 minutes. One of his blows landed on the pavilion roof, smashing a tile which fell dangerously close to an unsuspecting Lancashire member. Kruis's impetus assisted White into striking his first century of the season, and his third against Lancashire in his career. Notably, it was also the one hundredth century made between these two sides in Roses' history.

Kruis's bold hitting finally got the better of him when he attempted to smite James Anderson over midwicket, but was well caught by Mal Loye at third-man for 35. White remained unbeaten on 110, as Yorkshire reached 417 from 125 overs.

In what was to be the last ball of the day, Tim Bresnan cut one back to trap Mal Loye leg-before to leave Lancashire on 243 for 2, trailing by 174 runs. Yorkshire will seek early wickets tomorrow morning if they are to regain the initiative, but Lancashire hold the aces on day two.