From 121-0 to 139-5, then Yorkshire recover to 241-6 against Essex
THERE was an end-of-season feel to this day at Headingley.
The crowd was sparse, which was perhaps understandable. It had been 113 days since Championship cricket was last played at Yorkshire’s headquarters — long enough for supporters to forget where the old place was, let alone what it looked like.
The day itself dawned damp and sodden, like a forgotten towel at the bottom of a kit bag. There had been overnight rain and the scene was autumnal. Whose idea was it to play Championship cricket at this time of year?
Ten minutes before the 10.30 start, the covers came on. Then, as though the pitch was a painting that could now be officially unveiled, they came off again, the most fleeting of showers having swept through.
Out walked the Yorkshire opening pair, Adam Lyth and Will Luxton, in decidedly chilly conditions after the hosts won the toss and chose to bat on the same surface used for the Test here last month.
In Pakistan’s case, “used” might be stretching the word - their batsmen survived a combined 85.4 overs en route to an innings defeat.
The pitch certainly played well enough to justify Yorkshire captain Jonny Bairstow’s decision and, more importantly, so did Lyth and Luxton as the hosts began well.
Both men have had a tough run of form: Lyth was averaging 27 in this year’s competition going into the game; Luxton 28.
Either side of a rain delay that took out almost an hour of the first session, they put together a stand of 121 – Yorkshire’s highest first-wicket partnership in this season’s Championship. It contained 21 boundaries, with both batsmen driving handsomely through the covers, and quick to pounce on anything loose.
There was just one chance – Lyth dropped on 11 when the total was 16 in the fifth over. Paul Walter, facing towards the thinly populated North East Stand, did not seem to pick the ball up properly, the chance going down low to his right. He hurt himself, too, and needed treatment. Slip fielding in September ain’t no laughing matter.
Essex could have done with taking every opportunity. They are heavily depleted for this game - star spinner Simon Harmer having been recalled by South Africa, Jordan Cox and Sam Cook away with England, and four others injured. It is a good time to be facing them, in other words, with Ben Cliff replacing Ben Coad as the only change from the Yorkshire side that lost at Surrey.
There had been good news for both clubs before the start of play - news that could prove extremely significant.
It was announced that Leicestershire have been charged by the Cricket Regulator over the pitch used for last month’s game against Glamorgan at Grace Road, with a points deduction appearing likely.
That would significantly boost Yorkshire and Essex’s hopes of staying up and effectively condemn Leicestershire to relegation alongside bottom club Hampshire.
Not for the first time, Yorkshire are awaiting the final decision of the Cricket Discipline Panel - although this time with considerably more relish than usual.
All of which, allied to their 121-0 start to this match, was certainly encouraging. Yorkshire being Yorkshire, though, they slipped to 139-5 before Matty Revis and George Hill shared a 94-run stand, the hosts reaching 241-6 at stumps, the game nicely poised.
The earlier collapse happened like this... Luxton was bowled by Jamie Porter – one ball after reaching his fifty. Sam Whiteman top-edged a sweep off leg-spinner Matt Critchley to short fine-leg – his third successive duck, and his fourth in six innings.
Lyth was trapped on the crease by Shane Snater for a fine 62, made from 114 balls. James Wharton pulled a drag-down from Critchley, from outside off stump, straight to mid-on, then momentarily stood mortified as though he had inadvertently shot the wrong man. Bairstow was lbw to a ball from Snater that beat his defensive push, and suddenly Yorkshire had lost 5-18 in 51 deliveries.
Moments later, the wind whipped up and blew one of the nets in front of the West Stand on to the outfield.
It was as if someone was trying to send the home team a message; either that, or they were trying to give a cricket writer an easy punchline.
Yorkshire took tea at 147-5, after which further rain delayed the restart by 50 minutes.
As glorious sunshine replaced gloomy skies, Revis and Hill recovered the position, Revis leading the way with some glorious cover drives.
They put the pitch and the post-lunch wobble into context, the stand ending when Revis was lbw to Mitch Killeen for 61, made from 96 balls with 10 fours.
Hill ended the day unbeaten on 24 from 86 deliveries, with Dom Bess on six.
Yorkshire want to take the Leicestershire situation out of the equation, with their sights firmly set on a fourth Championship victory of the season.