Yorkshire’s title hopes fade away at Headingley

They went into their game against second-placed Durham at Scarborough with a 25.5-point lead at the top of the table.

But a seven-wicket defeat to their nearest rivals, followed by two more victories for the north-east county, means Durham could now clinch the title today.

From having looked nailed-on certainties to the probability of having the final nail driven into the coffin of their title hopes, it has been a chastening three weeks for the White Rose county.

Of course, as Lenny Kravitz once mused, “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over”, and Yorkshire remain just about alive.

But their hopes of forcing the win they need here were thwarted by the weather on an opening day in which just 42.1 overs were possible after they were sent into bat beneath leaden skies.

From a total of 1-2 inside the first three overs, with Adam Lyth lbw to Corey Collymore and Phil Jaques caught behind off Tim Murtagh, a closing score of 109-3 represented an impressive rearguard, captain Andrew Gale leading the way with 66 and Kane Williamson contributing an unbeaten 34.

But the dispatches from Durham were dire and depressing; after dismissing Nottinghamshire for 78, the home side closed on 207-8, needing to reach 250 and then win the match to clinch the crown regardless of events in Leeds.

After close of play last night, Gale admitted: “If things go as they are, Durham might have it wrapped up by tomorrow, which would be gutting. But, at the end of the day, with the run that they’re having, what can we do?

“All we can do is concentrate on ourselves, and then maybe Notts will go out and perform with the bat up in their game.

“They can’t bat that badly twice surely if you look at their batting line-up, because they’ve got some good batters.”

After Lyth fell to the ninth ball of the day and Jaques to the 17th, Gale looked on a personal mission to salvage the situation.

The captain had toyed with the idea of dropping himself earlier in the summer when he could not buy a run for love nor money, but by the time he was caught behind flashing at a delivery from Collymore, he had moved to within 15 runs of becoming the first Yorkshire player to score 1,000 in the Championship this season.

It has been an impressive fightback by the gutsy 29-year-old, a triumph of mental toughness as much as cricketing ability, and if Gale is not fortunate enough to lift the trophy this time then he can at least reflect on a job well done on a personal level.

Both he and Williamson battled well after a probing start by the Middlesex bowlers, who made the ball hoop about in the favourable conditions.

Collymore was less expensive than a plethora of freebies, conceding only 19 runs in 14 overs, while there was so very nearly a wicket for 19-year-old Tom Helm on first-class debut when Williamson miscued his first ball just over the head of Joe Denly at mid-wicket.

After taking 29 deliveries to get off the mark, which he achieved with a delicious off-driven four off Murtagh to the foot of the pavilion, Williamson steadily grew in assurance.

He pulled successive fours off Collymore – quite a feat – and added 97 in 33 overs with Gale, who was the dominant figure in their dogged stand.

“It was difficult out there; it was a good toss to win and it was always going to do a bit,” said Gale.

“We’ve produced a result wicket – it’s quite damp – and we’re in a decent position after day one.

“It was disappointing that the weather played a part; it’s always likely to do that at this time of 
year.

“But we’re happy with where we are in the match and hopefully we can go on and force a result,” he added.

Yorkshire all-rounder Rich Pyrah has signed a new deal that will keep him at the club until December 2015.

Pyrah, 30, has played for the county since 2001 and is the 11th player to sign a new contract this season.

Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket, said: “Rich is the ultimate professional who works hard on his game.

“He makes excellent contributions both with the ball and the bat and his fielding is amongst the very best on the county circuit.”

Pyrah, who is a key performer in one-day cricket, commented: “I am delighted to be committing my future to Yorkshire.

“I have enjoyed every minute representing the county of my birth.

“I am looking forward to being part of the future success of Yorkshire cricket.

“The next few years potentially could be very special in the history of the club.”

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