Milestone man Ben Coad claimed three wickets, including the 300th of his first-class career, to help move Yorkshire to the verge of promotion as they dominated the early stages of their clash with Northamptonshire at Headingley.
Capped yesterday, in the wickets today, this week also got a whole lot better for George Hill as the emerging all-rounder struck twice as the visitors closed on 117-6 from 40 overs.
Yorkshire claimed two bonus points in taking six wickets. Should they avoid defeat over the next two days, they will be promoted back to Division One alongside Sussex.
Coad now sits on 301 first-class wickets in his 76th game, and they have come at a remarkable 19.42 apiece.
He made the most of helpful conditions when play started at 3.30pm this afternoon and finished with 3-29 from 12 overs. Hill struck twice and fellow seamer Jordan Thompson once.
Debutant Krish Patel encouraged with a pleasing 26 with five fours for Northamptonshire, for whom George Bartlett top-scored with an unbeaten 41.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Ben Coad celebrates taking his 300th first-class wicket by dismissing Northamptonshire’s Saif Zaib.
Patel, 18-years-old, is one of two first-class debutants in the Northamptonshire side this weekend, on-loan spinner Fateh Singh the other.
The visitors currently hold fourth place in Division Two but can finish no higher.
However, this fixture is all about Yorkshire and whether or not they can seal promotion back to Division One. It’s now looking almost certain.
Before play, they needed a maximum of 10 more points to seal second place in the table and, with it promotion. That target now stands at eight – the haul you achieve for a draw – and is likely to be fewer given Middlesex are being frustrated down at Hove.
The third-placed Lord’s county have seen the opening two days of their clash with leaders Sussex washed out without a ball bowled, making the job of overhauling Yorkshire significantly harder.
Even though the job is not completed yet, it is difficult to see how Yorkshire could fail to secure promotion come Sunday evening.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. George Hill receives his county cap ahead of play against Northamptonshire. He went on to take two wickets and two catches.
Patel came to the crease late in the third over after Coad had removed opener Gus Miller, caught at first slip by Hill – 2-1.
The diminutive right-hander, who played one one-day game for Surrey last summer, was strong through the covers off both front foot and back.
He shared 42 with captain and opener Luke Procter before edging Thompson’s seam to second slip as the visitors fell to 44-2 in the 15th over.
Only 20 more runs had been added when Hill bowled Procter, for 25, with his fifth ball, securing Yorkshire’s first point of the fixture.
Hill was capped by Yorkshire as the rain fell yesterday morning and was again presented his cap by Jonny Bairstow before play started to give Yorkshire’s supporters chance to applaud their 23-year-old all-rounder.
And he added a second wicket when James Sales was bowled for 17 shouldering arms as Northamptonshire fell to 79-4 in the 30th over.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jordan Thompson celebrates dismissing Northamptonshire’s Krish Patel.
When Coad struck again – for wicket number 300 – the floodlights were on, with Saif Zaib edging to Hill at first slip. Northamptonshire were 106-5 in the 37th over.
The 30-year-old also had nightwatchman Singh caught at short mid-off in his next over to ensure a superb start to what is likely to be a special weekend.
