Somerset v Yorkshire: Bairstow the key man after Yorkshire lose late wickets

Yorkshire will not have to worry about timing a declaration at a ground where they have lost their last two games after setting a target.

Last year they went down by six wickets after inviting Somerset to score 362 in 68 overs.

In 2009 they also lost by six wickets after the home side made 476 in 85.3 overs – the second-highest run-chase in Championship history.

The bad news, however, is Yorkshire will not need to contemplate mathematical permutations for one simple reason.

The loss of three wickets in the last seven overs yesterday saw them slip from 224-3 to 249-6 and sent them into the final day with a lead of just 155.

Much may now depend on Jonny Bairstow, who followed his first innings 136 with an unbeaten 80 to put himself on the brink of becoming the first Yorkshire player to score two centuries in a game since Younus Khan made 106 and 202 not out against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl in 2007.

Bairstow and Marcus Trescothick have been head-and-shoulders above their contemporaries in this match, with the Yorkshireman playing a different game at present to his team-mates.

Yorkshire’s lead is clearly of the precarious variety, with Somerset favourites to win an intriguing contest. And yet, perversely, that late flurry of wickets has also given Yorkshire their best chance of winning, for a final-day declaration was never really on the cards.

Even if Yorkshire had ended day three just three wickets down, which had seemed probable until Joe Root was bowled by Gemaal Hussain for an excellent 67, they would have struggled to get sufficiently far in front to feel remotely comfortable about setting Somerset a target.

To lose once after declaring at Taunton might be regarded as unfortunate and to lose twice positively careless, but to lose three times would be downright inexcusable.

In truth, Yorkshire seemed guaranteed to emerge with at least a draw until Somerset rallied late in the piece.

The visitors were effectively 130-3 before Root’s dismissal and Somerset had found it tough going in the batsman-friendly conditions.

But two wickets in the penultimate over from Arul Suppiah, who had Gary Ballance caught at slip and Steve Patterson lbw, significantly altered the game’s complexion.

Only a brave man or a lunatic – or even a brave lunatic – would second-guess the outcome of this one.

Yorkshire’s first priority yesterday was to prevent Somerset gaining an overwhelming first innings lead – a target they fought well to achieve.

When play began an hour late after morning rain, shaving eight overs off the day’s allocation, Somerset were 389-6 in reply to Yorkshire’s 358.

The visitors made the ideal start when Ryan Sidebottom struck with the final ball of the opening over.

The left-arm pace man rapped Luke Gregory high on the thigh pad, the ball dropping on to the stumps like an autumn leaf tumbling to ground.

James Hildreth – 49 overnight – brought up his fifty from 70 balls with eight fours and a six before Oliver Hannon-Dalby left Somerset eight down for 422 when he had Gemaal Hussain caught behind.

The home side slipped to 448-9 shortly after lunch when Steve Kirby perished lbw to a quicker ball from Adil Rashid, who then rounded off the innings by having Hildreth caught behind for 87 driving at a wide delivery, the leg-spinner somehow emerging with four wickets after a disappointing performance.

One or two Yorkshire hearts were in mouths when the visitors slipped to 46-2 inside the first 10 overs of their second innings.

Adam Lyth continued his trend of playing a few handsome strokes before abruptly getting out, the left-hander edging Hussain to the wicketkeeper, while Anthony McGrath failed for the second time in the match when he was adjudged lbw to Kirby, thereby becoming his former team-mate’s 499th first-class victim.

But Root and Andrew Gale steadied the ship, lifting Yorkshire into the lead with a spirited stand of 71 in 21 overs. Root was correct in defence and quick to spot a quick single, while Gale tried to be positive at every opportunity.

The captain had one or two moments of fortune – he top-edged Hussain over the wicketkeeper’s head for six and was almost caught-and-bowled by Peter Trego when a leading edge ballooned agonisingly out of reach.

Trego eventually got him for 50, swinging a superb yorker back into Gale’s pads to leave Yorkshire 117-3 just after tea.

Root then combined in a stand of 107 in 26 overs with Bairstow that looked to have steered Yorkshire out of harm’s way.

Of course, it may yet have helped them on the road to victory, with another cracking and unpredictable finish in prospect.