Shahzad offers short, sharp shock treatment

AJMAL SHAHZAD has revealed how Yorkshire are using him as an out-and-out wicket-taker in an attempt to boost their quest for silverware.

The England pace bowler said he had been handed a clear role by Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale – to take as many wickets as possible and not worry too much about runs conceded.

Shahzad completed his third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket yesterday to raise Yorkshire’s hopes of a second win of the Championship season.

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Gale’s men go into the final day on 62-3 in their second innings, a lead of 185, and with an opportunity to put Hampshire under pressure.

“I’ve been given a brilliant role by Galey this season,” declared Shahzad, whose 5-65 helped Yorkshire to a first innings lead of 123.

“He wants to use me in three-to-five over blasts and to try to take as many wickets as possible.

“Galey wants me to run in and bowl quick and isn’t worried if I’m going for four, five runs an over – just so long as I’m taking wickets.

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“My role is basically to attack as much as I can; I’m not doing a holding job or anything like that.”

It is a policy that has so far paid rich dividends.

Shahzad single-handedly breathed life into this game on the second evening after the contest had bore draw written all over it.

The 25-year-old took four wickets to leave Hampshire on 189-6 going into yesterday’s play as they replied shakily to Yorkshire’s first innings 355.

And Shahzad could have another big part to play today if Yorkshire are to claim a much-needed triumph.

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“Hopefully I can produce another good performance in the second innings to help give the boys the best chance of victory,” added Shahzad, who will look to further his England ambitions in next week’s Lions’ match against Sri Lanka at Derby.

“I think we can still beat Hampshire – we’ve got a good lead and it won’t be easy for them chasing a target.

“I think we can put them under pressure particularly if me, Siddy (Ryan Sidebottom) and Bressy (Tim Bresnan) fire like we can and put the ball in decent areas.

“Fingers crossed, we can set up a game.”

Yorkshire’s victory hopes were frustrated by the weather yesterday with 54 overs lost to the elements.

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The home team will be in seventh place in Division One tonight unless they can beat Hampshire, who have found it predictably tough going against Shahzad, Bresnan and Sidebottom, who are appearing together in four-day cricket for the first time this season.

It was Sidebottom who struck the first blow on another slate-grey morning as he bowled superbly from the Rugby Stand end.

The former England left-armer claimed a wicket in the fourth over when he had Hampshire captain Dominic Cork well caught at cover by Joe Root.

Hampshire fell to 216-8 when Bresnan had Sean Ervine lbw with his second delivery from the Kirkstall Lane end as Gale maintained his record of inspiring wickets with seemingly every bowling change he implements.

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When Sidebottom had Danny Briggs lbw in the next over with a splendid yorker, Hampshire were 217-9 and had only just crawled past the follow-on mark.

They were finally dismissed for 232 when Shahzad had Kabir Ali caught at third man by Steve Patterson, the innings ending 35 minutes before lunch.

It left a tricky period for Yorkshire openers Adam Lyth and Joe Sayers to negotiate – and Lyth perished in the fifth of seven overs before the interval. The left-hander was caught down the leg-side off Cork, who has bowled magnificently in this match and with an athleticism that makes a mockery of the fact he turns 40 in August.

Sayers fell in the third over after lunch when he was caught behind off David Griffiths, wicketkeeper Nic Pothas then claiming his third catch when Root nibbled at one from Cork after making fluent progress to 31.

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Maddeningly for Root, it was the final ball before the players left the field for rain at 2.28pm – not returning until 5.18pm.

Only 20 more balls were possible before the heavens opened again, with Gale unbeaten on 16 and Jonny Bairstow undefeated on one.

Positive stroke play will be the order of the day this morning – and then it will be over to Shahzad and the bowlers.

With better weather forecast, there could yet be some tasty cricket for the Headingley crowd to savour.

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Yorkshire have announced a 12-man squad for tomorrow’s CB40 match against Kent at Headingley Carnegie (1.45pm start).

Yorkshire are targeting a quick-fire double against Robert Key’s men following their 93-run win at Canterbury last week.

Yorkshire (from): Gale (captain), Bairstow, Lyth, Root, Sayers, Brophy, Rashid, Bresnan, Shahzad, Sidebottom, Patterson, Wainwright.