Yorkshire’s Bob Willis Trophy campaign is struggling to escape the rain, with their Roses clash at Emerald Headingley suffering further disruption on day two. But there was still enough time for Adam Lyth to enhance an impressive career record against Lancashire.
Thirty five overs were lost, added to the 87 on day one, meaning the chances of either side claiming a positive result from this penultimate round North Group fixture are slim.
This comes after last week’s home draw with Derbyshire was deprived of 138 overs across the four days.
What play was possible during the second day was extremely engaging, with both sides enjoying periods of dominance as Yorkshire advanced from 8-0 after 2.1 overs overnight to 178-6 from 66.
Opener Lyth’s unbeaten 86 off 197 balls represented his seventh score of fifty or more in 14 Roses first-class appearances, including a career best 251 at Emirates Old Trafford during the County Championship-title winning season of 2014.
After surviving a huge lbw appeal on nought from Tom Bailey – he was also later bowled off a George Balderson no ball on 45 – he fed on a nervy start to the day from Lancashire debutant George Burrows, pulling the new ball seamer for six behind square.
Yorkshire had reached 53-0 after 10 overs thanks to Lyth and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (18) and were extremely well placed against an inexperienced visiting frontline seam attack.
While Bailey is playing his 60th first-class game, Burrows and all-rounders Danny Lamb and Balderson had only made nine first-class appearances between them coming into this.
But they put the skids under the White Rose’s healthy start by reducing the score to 78-4 in helpful bowling conditions before lunch.
Bailey made the initial breakthrough when he had Kohler-Cadmore smartly caught low down at first slip by Keaton Jennings in the eleventh over.
Lamb replaced Bailey at the Emerald Stand End and had Will Fraine caught behind for five and Tom Loten lbw for nought as the White Rose slipped to 61-3 in the 17th.
There was further damage done courtesy of Burrows, who returned for his second spell – his first five overs cost him 35 – at the Kirkstall Lane End and had instant reward
Three balls into the 24th over, Harry Brook (six) cut a short and wide delivery to Josh Bohannon at point, leaving the hosts 78-4.
Yorkshire reached lunch at 97-4, with no play then possible between 2.15pm and 4.45pm due to rain.
Thankfully, when play resumed under sunny evening skies, there was enough time left for 30 overs, in which time Lyth went beyond 50 and closed in on a fourth Roses career century.
The left-hander reached 50 off 130 balls with eight fours and a six. This was his seventh score of 50 or more in 14 Roses first-class appearances.
He shared 61 for the fifth wicket Jonny Tattersall.
Wicketkeeper batsman Tattersall had been dropped on one by Jennings at first slip and advanced to 25.
Unfortunately, however, he fell caught at first slip off Jennings’ part-time medium pacers, ironically, leaving Yorkshire at 139-5 in the 52nd over.
Lyth later pulled his second six off Lamb before Burrows bowled Jordan Thompson off an inside-edge – trying to leave the ball alone – as Yorkshire fell to 164-6 in the 62nd over.
