Yorkshire battle to safety
A round-up of all the action from the final day in Division Two of the County Championship
Cricinfo staff
28-May-2005
Yorkshire 408 (Harvey 76, Bresnan 70, Gough 5-85) and 238 for 5 (Jaques 89, McGrath 50) drew with Essex 622 for 8 dec (A Flower 188, Irani 103, Gough 93, Foster 92)
Scorecard
Yorkshire comfortably batted out for a draw on the final day at Headingley, thanks to a top and tail performance from the batting order. Tim Bresnan, Chris Silverwood and Deon Kruis used up valuable time in the morning session, as they extended Yorkshire's first innings past 400. Tim Bresnan made 70, while last-man Kruis smote 26 from just 23 balls. Yorkshire's tail-end resistance meant Essex had to toil through 135 overs but had no choice other than to enforce the follow-on, and the fatigue showed. Darren Gough did not take the new ball, after claiming 5 for 85 from 29 overs in the first innings, and an opening stand of 94 between Matthew Wood and Phil Jaques put Yorkshire on course for safety. Jaques's dismissal for a rapid 89 from 99 balls did prompt a mini wobble and when Ian Harvey was out just after tea Essex had a sniff. But the bowlers were tired, while Anthony McGrath was providing a level head with the bat, with Craig White at the other end to see out the closing overs.
Scorecard
Yorkshire comfortably batted out for a draw on the final day at Headingley, thanks to a top and tail performance from the batting order. Tim Bresnan, Chris Silverwood and Deon Kruis used up valuable time in the morning session, as they extended Yorkshire's first innings past 400. Tim Bresnan made 70, while last-man Kruis smote 26 from just 23 balls. Yorkshire's tail-end resistance meant Essex had to toil through 135 overs but had no choice other than to enforce the follow-on, and the fatigue showed. Darren Gough did not take the new ball, after claiming 5 for 85 from 29 overs in the first innings, and an opening stand of 94 between Matthew Wood and Phil Jaques put Yorkshire on course for safety. Jaques's dismissal for a rapid 89 from 99 balls did prompt a mini wobble and when Ian Harvey was out just after tea Essex had a sniff. But the bowlers were tired, while Anthony McGrath was providing a level head with the bat, with Craig White at the other end to see out the closing overs.
3rd day
Derbyshire 251 for 9 dec and 271 for 7 (di Venuto 73, Bryant 61) lead Leicestershire 279 (Robinson 110, Mongia 51, Welch 4-48) by 243 runs
Scorecard
Just 248 runs were scored in 104 overs on another turgid day at Derby, but the home side have built a useful, if not decisive, advantage. This match as been characterised by batsmen not converting promising starts into substantial innings - apart from Darren Robinson's century - and Derbyshire were guilty of it again. Michael di Venuto hit his second valuable half-century of the match - 73 from 224 balls - until he was caught and bowled by Charl Willoughby. James Bryant weighed in with 61 but the middle order failed against Claude Henderson and Darren Maddy. Until halfway through the afternoon session Derbyshire were scoring at less than two-an-over, but they have struggled this season, and can't be blamed for taking a cautious approach, on a pitch showing signs of uneven bounce. Ant Botha provided the quickest scoring of the day, his unbeaten 30 from 50 balls means Derbyshire will be able to set a target over 250 on the final day.
Derbyshire 251 for 9 dec and 271 for 7 (di Venuto 73, Bryant 61) lead Leicestershire 279 (Robinson 110, Mongia 51, Welch 4-48) by 243 runs
Scorecard
Just 248 runs were scored in 104 overs on another turgid day at Derby, but the home side have built a useful, if not decisive, advantage. This match as been characterised by batsmen not converting promising starts into substantial innings - apart from Darren Robinson's century - and Derbyshire were guilty of it again. Michael di Venuto hit his second valuable half-century of the match - 73 from 224 balls - until he was caught and bowled by Charl Willoughby. James Bryant weighed in with 61 but the middle order failed against Claude Henderson and Darren Maddy. Until halfway through the afternoon session Derbyshire were scoring at less than two-an-over, but they have struggled this season, and can't be blamed for taking a cautious approach, on a pitch showing signs of uneven bounce. Ant Botha provided the quickest scoring of the day, his unbeaten 30 from 50 balls means Derbyshire will be able to set a target over 250 on the final day.