Centurion Adam Lyth says Yorkshire have got one eye on the weather forecast for Saturday as they try to plot a route to victory over Sussex at Headingley.
Lyth hit a brilliant 115 on day two as Yorkshire responded in dominant fashion to Sussex’s first-innings 216.
They closed on 286-4, a lead of 70, the experienced opener’s second Championship century the standout amidst a series of important contributions.
Dawid Malan finished the day on 51 not out, while Lyth’s opening partner Fin Bean made 45 and another left-hander Ryan Rickelton 46 on home debut. Lyth shared half-century partnerships with all three of them.
Over at Emirates Old Trafford, England have indicated by the way they’ve batted against Australia that the forecast nationwide this weekend is dreadful. They are aiming to win that Test inside three days instead of five.
Yorkshire also have a similar need for haste, with Saturday’s final day under severe threat if the forecasters are to be believed.
“We’ve had a look at the weather and it doesn’t look great for Saturday,” said Lyth.
“It actually looks better I’m told than what it had been. But, yeah, if we can bat for a session tomorrow and get 180-200 ahead, we’ll see if we can try and bowl them out tomorrow.”
Sussex started the day on 120-6 before Dan Moriarty claimed two of the last four wickets to fall, paving the way for some excellent work with the bat.
Lyth and Bean both went to 600 Championship runs for the season, with Lyth nipping just ahead on 646 compared to 614.
“It was a very good day,” said the 35-year-old Whitby wonder.
“At the start, we didn’t bowl as well as we’d have liked. But to bowl them out for 216, we’d have taken that at the start yesterday morning.
“And I think we’ve batted pretty well there to get 70 in front. Hopefully tomorrow we can bat until lunch and maybe try and bowl them out in two sessions.
“Everyone’s in good form with the bat. Last week it was Beany, this week it’s me. Hopefully next week it will be somebody else when we go to Scarborough.
“You need a good start all the time, and me and Beany have struck up a nice little partnership. We put 94 on, and it set us up for the rest of the day.
“I think I’ve just gone ahead of Beany (runs for the season), so it will be a good little competition for the rest of the year.”
