Lyth roars for Lions inclusion with Roses century

The Yorkshire opener is scoring runs for fun, and there is no sign of his enjoyment coming to an end.

With an innings of exactly 100 in Manchester, Lyth lifted his season's tally to 953 in the County Championship at 68.07.

It was his third century in six innings – two of the other scores were in the 90s – and helped Yorkshire to 379-8 on the opening day of the 251st Roses match.

The only disappointment for Lyth was that he did not become the first Englishman this summer to reach 1,000 runs.

He is currently in a nip-and-tuck battle to achieve that milestone with Mark Ramprakash, who made 99 for Surrey against Derbyshire at Chesterfield yesterday to inch ahead of the Yorkshireman with 959 at 68.50.

Neither Ramprakash, 40, nor Lyth, 22, have had a look-in at international level this season which, in the case of the former it is understandable because of his age, but for the latter increasingly inexplicable.

With all due respect to Darren Stevens, the 34-year-old Kent batsman, surely Lyth was a better bet for the England Lions squad currently playing a one-day tournament against India A and West Indies A.

At least Lyth's omission enabled his participation at Old Trafford, where England A call-ups have deprived Yorkshire of their captain, Andrew Gale, and Lancashire of pace bowler Sajid Mahmood in yet another kick in the teeth for the paying public.

Lyth's innings yesterday was typical and timely.

Having already lost Gale, Yorkshire were dealt a further blow before the start of play when Joe Sayers – Lyth's opening partner – was ruled out after suffering an asthma attack.

Acting captain Jacques Rudolph was promoted to open as Yorkshire went into the match with only five specialist batsmen, Azeem Rafiq coming into the team as a second spinner to partner Adil Rashid – a bold move that could pay dividends on a pitch that normally offers something for the slow men.

A good performance from the top-order was, therefore, essential and, in sunny, sultry conditions with just the merest hint of breeze, largely forthcoming.

Lyth started in a hurry, scoring 40 of the first 43 runs after Rudolph enjoyed the considerable fortune of winning the toss.

The Whitby-born youngster seized on some loose stuff from West Indian pace bowler Daren Powell, who was the epitome of profligacy at one end while new-ball partner Glen Chapple was parsimony personified at the other.

The only semblance of a chance during the morning session came when Lyth top-edged a delivery from Powell that did not land a million miles away from Simon Kerrigan at long-leg before trickling over the rope for four.

Otherwise, Lyth's was a near-flawless exhibition of cover-driving, straight-driving, neat tucks off the legs and clever punches all round the ground with the emphasis on deft placement as opposed to brute force.

Rudolph, who favours a similarly creative approach, is no stranger to opening the batting, of course, having done so last summer in tandem with Sayers.

At first, the South African was circumspect, content to play a Sayers-like anchor role while Lyth cast out his net, but he grew increasingly expansive as the morning progressed.

Rudolph used his feet particularly well to the left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan, who leaked 52 runs in 10 overs before lunch.

One late-cut off Kerrigan with which Rudolph brought up the century opening stand will live in the memory, the ball speeding towards the electronic scoreboard at the Brian Statham end.

Although Chapple and Tom Smith posed problems, it was difficult to see where a wicket was coming from until Lyth fell at 2.15pm with the total on 166.

Smith served up a leg-stump delivery which Lyth glanced hard only for wicketkeeper Luke Sutton to pull off a spectacular catch, diving to his right.

Lyth's departure brought in Anthony McGrath, who accumulated in controlled and collected fashion.

The former England all-rounder was especially strong square of the wicket as he maintained his own impressive start to the season.

Rudolph fell 17 short of three-figures when he followed a delivery from Powell and edged high to second slip, where Smith made the catch look effortless.

Jonathan Bairstow chipped in with a stylish 47, striking nine fours being turned round by a ball from Smith which took the leading edge and spooned to a diving Simon Katich at cover.

From the absolute dominance of 299-2, some of the gloss was taken off Yorkshire's day as they lost five wickets in the final 13 overs.

After McGrath chopped on to Powell for 61, Chapple had Gerard Brophy lbw to a full ball, Rashid brilliantly caught by Steven Croft at point, Rafiq caught behind and Tino Best caught and bowled as Lancashire stuck to their task.

Lancashire v Yorkshire

Old Trafford: Yorkshire Won Toss

Yorkshire First Innings Close

A Lyth c Sutton b Smith 100

J A Rudolph c Smith b D B L Powell 83

A McGrath b D B L Powell 61

J M Bairstow c Katich b Smith 47

G L Brophy lbw b Chapple 35

A U Rashid c Croft b Chapple 13

R M Pyrah not out 8

Rafiq c Sutton b Chapple 4

T L Best c & b Chapple 1

S A Patterson not out 2

Extras b2 lb15 nb8 pens 0 25

Total 8 wkts (96 overs) 379

Fall: 1-166 2-220 3-299 4-338 5-350 6-367 7-371 8-373

To Bat: O J Hannon-Dalby.

Bowling: Chapple 23 5 60 4; D B L Powell 15 0 73 2; Hogg 17 2 74 0; Kerrigan 18 1 89 0; Smith 23 6 66 2.