Trapdoor to relegation starts to splinter beneath Yorkshire feet

No 1: relegation rivals Worcestershire to beat leaders Lancashire.

Sure enough, Worcestershire yesterday completed a 10-wicket win inside two days at New Road to move 18 points clear of second-bottom Yorkshire.

No 2: bottom club Hampshire to prosper against title-chasing Somerset.

Sure enough, Hampshire closed day two on 480-4 at Taunton in reply to 204, raising hopes of a victory that would leave Yorkshire in serious danger of finishing bottom.

Finally, No 3: Shivnarine Chanderpaul to play the sort of innings he produced at Headingley last week, when his 193 inspired Warwickshire to an innings triumph.

Sure enough, the West Indian followed up with 110 at Edgbaston as Warwickshire reached 281-6 in reply to Yorkshire’s 281 at the halfway stage of a game the visitors must win to have a chance of staying up.

Although Yorkshire would not be mathematically doomed if they lost or drew here, they would then go into their final match against Somerset at Headingley next week at least 14 points behind third-bottom Worcestershire, who also have a game in hand.

In reality, the trapdoor is creaking so loudly that not even a victory at Edgbaston is likely to do more than prolong the agony, with Yorkshire then sitting out the last round of matches.

The mathematics are complex but the equation seems clear.

Yorkshire need to beat Warwickshire and Somerset – and then hope for a miracle.

But it would be a miracle even if they beat Warwickshire and Somerset.

In fairness to Yorkshire, they stuck to their task on the second day of this game.

As summer made a welcome if fleeting reappearance, with the Black Country bathed in golden sunshine, Yorkshire bowled with plenty of spirit – if not the cutting edge they clearly desired.

There were moments of inaccurate workmanship and profligate deliveries, particularly during an evening session in which Warwickshire scored 139 in 32 overs, but the visitors were up against an outstanding opponent in Chanderpaul in particular, who once again looked a cut above the rest.

Chanderpaul proceeded in mostly measured but sometimes explosive manner, scoring his runs from 182 balls with nine fours and two sixes – one maximum pinged over long-on off Adil Rashid, the other pummelled over long-off after he danced down the track to attack Joe Root.

Ryan Sidebottom removed Chanderpaul just before stumps, caught behind as the second new-ball did the trick, the left-armer then dismissing Chris Metters lbw to give Yorkshire something to cling on to going into day three.

Before Chanderpaul could take centre stage, Warwickshire had to winkle out the last two wickets after Yorkshire resumed on 254-8.

The visitors had 12 overs to score the 46 runs they needed to reach 300 and claim a third batting point before the 110-over cut-off mark, while Warwickshire required one more wicket to claim the maximum three bowling points.

After the ninth-wicket pair of Sidebottom and Steve Patterson began positively, lifting the total to 281 with a flurry of boundaries, the innings ended abruptly when Rikki Clarke captured two wickets in four balls.

Sidebottom was caught behind trying to cut before last man Moin Ashraf also fell to a catch behind, in his case aiming an expansive heave at a ball outside off-stump.

It gave Clarke figures of 4-55 to go with four catches, the last nine Yorkshire wickets tumbling for 99 runs after they had been 182-1 on the opening day.

Warwickshire lost two wickets early in reply. Ajmal Shahzad had Varun Chopra caught behind with the total on 26, the batsman having looked as comfortable as a man with ants down his pants.

In the next over, Sidebottom located the edge of Will Porterfield’s bat, Anthony McGrath doing the rest at second slip.

Ian Westwood and Chanderpaul added 67 for the third wicket in 22 overs before Westwood perished an hour after lunch, caught at first slip by Adam Lyth off Sidebottom, having scored 55 from 108 balls with seven fours.

Chanderpaul managed only 33 runs during the afternoon session as Yorkshire stifled the scoring, the visitors claiming a fourth wicket just before tea when Jim Troughton was caught behind driving airily at Moin Ashraf, who bowled a decent first spell from the Pavilion End.

After tea, Yorkshire struggled as Chanderpaul accelerated in tandem with Tim Ambrose.

After reaching fifty from 116 balls, Chanderpaul needed only another 60 deliveries to achieve his second half-century as he treated the crowd to a fine exhibition.

Ambrose had the odd moment of fortune but for the most part played formidably, driving fluently en route to a fifth half-century in as many Championship games.

The former England wicketkeeper will resume on 68 as Yorkshire chase early wickets to keep their survival hopes flickering a little while longer.