Loan signing Conor McKerr impressed on day three with five wickets across two innings as Yorkshire completed a resounding innings and 22-run victory over Gloucestershire at Scarborough.
McKerr, 26, has been with Yorkshire from Surrey since the start of the month, playing a quartet of T20 games.
But this was his red ball debut for the county, whose fast-bowling injuries have been well documented.
And it proved a memorable bow having helped secure a first win of the ongoing Vitality County Championship campaign at the eighth attempt – one which yielded 22 points to give their promotion hopes a major shot in the arm.
Big fast bowler McKerr was on a hat-trick twice today – once at the end of Gloucestershire’s first innings before lunch and again deep in their second during the afternoon.
Gloucestershire, replying to a first-innings 456, started day three on 168-7 in their first innings and were made to follow-on 259 runs in arrears having been bowled out for 197.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Conor McKerr celebrates one of his five day three wickets.
Seam bowling all-rounders Jordan Thompson and Matthew Revis finished with three wickets apiece and McKerr with 2-28 from 17.3 overs having taken the new ball.
The visiting side’s second innings was wrapped up midway through the evening on 237 all out,
McKerr finished that with 3-48 from 11.4 overs, including the magical winning wicket.
Vishwa Fernando struck first after Gloucestershire were asked to follow-on just before midday. He bowled Ben Charlesworth, leaving the score at 6-1 in the second over.
But Gloucestershire made a steady start to their second innings, reaching 55-1 thanks to Cameron Bancroft and Ollie Price.
However, their respite was only brief as Price, Bancroft and James Bracey all fell in the space of five afternoon overs – 73-4 in the 28th.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Captain Tatts! Jonny Tattersall led Yorkshire to victory this week.
Price, on 27, edged Revis to fourth slip before Bancroft (26) was trapped lbw by a peach of an in-swinger from George Hill.
And then came a catch which will be long talked about.
Adam Lyth started Yorkshire’s relentless march to victory this week with a fine 129 in the first innings. On his home ground, he shared 307 for the first wicket with Fin Bean, who made a superb 164.
But just as Lyth and all his family and friends present at his home ground will remember his Sunday ton, they will his catch at second slip to help Sri Lankan overseas Fernando remove James Bracey.
Gloucestershire’s wicketkeeper-batter aimed a pull at the left-arm quick but could only cue-end it to Lyth’s left at second slip.
Diving full-length to his left, Lyth held a one-handed stunner.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Adam Lyth celebrates his stunning slip catch to help Vishwa Fernando remove James Bracey. In the background, assistant coach Ali Maiden celebrates alongside senior physio Alissa Dibley.
Wicket number five followed not long afterwards when captain Graeme van Buuren edged a drive behind at Thompson – 82 for five in the 33rd over.
And things got worse for Gloucestershire as McKerr struck twice in two balls late in the afternoon to get Miles Hammond caught at leg-slip off a gloved pull and Ed Middleton caught at second slip, 111-7 in the 39th over.
Beau Webster (30) and Zaman Akhter, who posted his maiden first-team fifty, delayed the inevitable by taking their side beyond 150 before the former was caught behind off Hill on the verge of tea – 158-8 in the 49th.
Akhter hit three sixes off Dom Bess, one straight, one over long-on and the other reverse swept over cover, and went on to reach a maiden first-team fifty off 54 balls in the early evening.
Akhter also shared 58 for the ninth wicket with Dom Goodman.
Akhter was bowled by Hill for 70 – 216-9 in the 64th over – before McKerr had Ajeet Singh Dale caught behind down leg to seal the deal in the 69th. Goodman, like Akhter, also recorded a career best score, finishing unbeaten on 38.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jordan Thompson in the field this morning.
McKerr was excellent on his red ball debut for the county.
Both of his first-innings wickets came inside the opening 50 minutes of play today, following Thompson’s breakthrough.
He had Akhter caught low down at first slip by George Hill, leaving Gloucestershire at 178-8 before, with the new ball, McKerr’s extra pace did for 10 and 11, new ball bowlers Goodman and Singh Dale.
Goodman was trapped lbw midway through the 83rd over before Singh Dale miscued a heave to mid-on next ball to fall for a golden duck.
