Surrey v Yorkshire (day two): '˜Deal' needs to be struck if Yorkshire are to enjoy victory

There has been too much of it already in this summer of showers, and a game against second-bottom Surrey is, on paper, one that Yorkshire would certainly expect to win.

Yet at the halfway stage in soggy south London, Surrey have scored 164-5 in the 49.4 overs we have seen across the two days.

Yesterday’s allocation of 16.4 overs saw the hosts advance from 95-2, and although better weather is forecast for the second half of the contest, it is difficult to see a positive result without some sort of collusion.

Whether Surrey would want to collude or instead collect useful points for a draw against the champions is open to debate.

The hosts might conclude that any points against Yorkshire are good points, and certainly not points to be carelessly squandered in an effort to win.

As ever in such circumstances, time will tell.

Yet the odds at this stage are clearly on a draw, one which Yorkshire would perhaps consider to be of neither use nor ornament as they pursue their cherished ambition of a hat-trick of Championships.

Although there was only 70 minutes’ play yesterday before the rain started to fall on and off from 12.20pm, there was plenty of action to entertain the crowd.

In contrastingly glorious sunshine, with a brisk wind blowing the flags on top of the red-bricked pavilion (for the record, the flags of Surrey, Yorkshire, and also the Union Jack), the home side made a positive start.

Zafar Ansari and Aaron Finch took six runs off David Willey’s opening over from the Pavilion End, and then seven from Steve Patterson’s first over from the Vauxhall End, Finch striking the first boundary of the day when he on-drove Patterson with powerful flourish.

Finch, the former Yorkshire batsman, had 34 to his name overnight and he progressed to a 77-ball half-century, although he was lucky not to be caught on 47 when he skied Patterson high into the covers and just out of reach of a back-pedalling Alex Lees.

Patterson, probing and persevering, did not have to wait long to get his man, inducing a checked drive from Finch to short extra-cover, where Jack Leaning held a straightforward catch, the Australian departing for 52.

It was the second wicket in the space of three balls after Willey yorked Ansari with the final delivery of the previous over, sending two stumps cartwheeling out of the ground in spectacular fashion.

Ansari added 85 with Finch in 17 overs, but the momentum moved back to Yorkshire as they claimed a third wicket in nine balls when Willey had Jason Roy caught at the third attempt by wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd, who eventually clung on to a regulation chance as he tumbled forward.

At that stage, Yorkshire were on top and although they remain so on a good batting pitch, Surrey steadied themselves through their sixth-wicket pair of Steven Davies and Ben Foakes.

Davies, the silky left-hander, got off the mark with a lovely off-driven four off Patterson, while Foakes, the highly-rated wicketkeeper-batsman, opened his account with an equally lovely on-driven four off Willey.

Foakes was fortunate when he edged Willey just in front of Tim Bresnan at first slip, the fielder needing the services of the Yorkshire physio and his magic spray, and Foakes was then unfortunate when he produced a contender for the straightest straight drive of the season off Willey, the ball knocking out the middle stump at the bowler’s end to prevent a boundary.

Davies, on 10, also had his heart in his mouth when he edged Patterson just past a diving Adam Lyth at second slip, but Yorkshire conceded too many boundaries after their triple-wicket salvo, Davies and Foakes sharing nine in eight overs before the heavens opened.

As reported in The Yorkshire Post, Yorkshire are seeking feedback from their members on whether they want one less Championship match at Headingley or Scarborough from next summer.

They have now written to them officially to gather their views.

Due to the revamped schedule, each club will play one less Championship home game from next year.

The Yorkshire members’ committee have already indicated that they want to keep the two annual Championship games at Scarborough, with the compromise that the ground’s two annual one-day fixtures are moved back to Headingley.

That also appears the favoured option of the Yorkshire board, who will make a final decision at the end of the season.

The other option is to play one less Championship game at Scarborough and to retain its two one-day fixtures, which, from next year, would be played at the traditionally less seaside-friendly times of April and May.

Yorkshire’s Ed Barnes has been named in the England U-19 squad to face Sri Lanka in two four-day games and a three-match one-day series.

Barnes’s county colleague, Jared Warner, was due to have led the side in the one-day fixtures but misses out with a back problem.

The games against Sri Lanka run from July 26 to August 16.