Yorkshire fail to take advantage as Notts cling on

Now they have possibly done it again, having failed to make the home side follow-on when that outcome appeared a simple formality.

When Joe Root claimed his maiden first-class wicket shortly after tea, Nottinghamshire were 291-8 in reply to Yorkshire’s 534-9 declared and needed a further 94 runs to avoid the follow-on.

But an incredible stand of 114 from just 98 balls between Ben Phillips and Andre Adams stunned Yorkshire and raised Nottinghamshire’s hopes of getting out of jail.

Phillips, playing his first Championship match for his new county after signing from Somerset, thrashed an unbeaten 71 from 104 balls with eight fours and three sixes.

Adams, who has bowled only nine overs due to an elbow injury, showed he can still wield the willow as he plundered 54 from 47 deliveries with seven fours and three sixes.

Both struck the ball cleanly and with devastating power to destroy a Yorkshire attack that was made to look ragged.

No one was spared as England bowlers past and present were mercilessly hammered in an assault that fair took away the breath.

To add insult to injury, last man Luke Fletcher clubbed 20 from nine balls with five fours – including three in succession off Shahzad. A fourth beckoned before Root held a fine running catch at deep mid-wicket as Nottinghamshire rallied to 428.

Yorkshire reached 17-0 in the seven overs that remained to go into the final day with a lead of 123.

Anything can and probably will happen knowing these teams – suffice to say Yorkshire would be disappointed to emerge with a draw having played all the cricket until yesterday tea-time.

The visitors were certainly well on top as day three began in watery sunshine.

Nottinghamshire were 43-0 and faced a big task to claw themselves back into the contest – even accounting for the placid pitch and the short square boundary to the Bridgford Road side.

Nottinghamshire’s success in recent times has been founded on their seam bowling rather than a top-order that inspires limited confidence.

With half that seam attack missing or injured, Nottinghamshire had been made to look ordinary during the first seven sessions by a Yorkshire side who could not have wished for a better time to play them.

Once again, Nottinghamshire’s top-order faltered as Yorkshire made regular inroads.

Rich Pyrah got the ball rolling, taking three wickets in six overs from the Radcliffe Road end as Nottinghamshire slid from 88-0 to 143-3.

The all-rounder has been richly impressive this season and he struck with his second delivery to bowl Mark Wagh.

Pyrah then had fellow opener Neil Edwards caught behind for 64, the batsman appearing unhappy with the decision as he indicated to the umpire he had not touched the ball.

Pyrah’s third wicket came with the aid of a smart slip catch by Adil Rashid to remove Samit Patel, who never looked comfortable.

Two runs after Patel’s departure, Alex Hales – having played beautifully to reach 28 – was hit on the grille by a short ball from Ajmal Shahzad and had to retire hurt.

Hales suffered a sore jaw but returned to action following the fall of the fifth wicket midway through the afternoon session.

Adam Voges had become the fourth man out on the stroke of lunch, lbw to Shahzad, but Yorkshire were held up by Chris Read and Steven Mullaney, who turned the tables at Headingley with a brilliant stand. They again proceeded in fine style until Read was dismissed in unfortunate fashion, clipping a ball from Rashid firmly off his pads which somehow stuck to Root at forward short-leg.

Hales went on to complete a fine half-century only to surrender his wicket on 59, pulling a long-hop from Rashid to deep mid-wicket.

Rashid tempted Mullaney to edge to slip but for the most part bowled indifferently.

Yorkshire were poor collectively against Phillips and Adams, who knocked them off stride with their savage hitting. Phillips hit Pyrah for a straight six, a leg-side six that was also a no-ball and Rashid for a six over long-off, while Adams thumped leg-side maximums off Rashid, Shahzad and Steve Patterson. Adams eventually skied a delivery from Shahzad straight up in the air and was caught behind to end a stand that will live in the memory.

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