Adam Lyth is closing in on a fourth career Roses century, but the Yorkshire left-hander needed a significant slice of luck to get him through to close on day two against Lancashire at Emerald Headingley.
Lyth’s 86 not out was the centrepiece of Yorkshire’s 178-6.
But he was bowled on 45 – off an inside-edge – by a George Balderson no ball.
Lyth pulled two sixes added to 12 boundaries during a day disrupted by rain, with 35 overs lost.
“It was quite tough out there,” said the left-hander, who shared half-century stands with opening partner Tom Kohler-Cadmore and later Jonny Tattersall.
“To be fair, if they’d have bowled a bit better with the new ball, it could have been tougher. But we got off to a bit of a flyer and scored at five an over (Yorkshire reached 53-0 after 10 overs).
“They then pegged it back really, really well with some tight lines and good lengths.
“That was probably a bit of inexperience from their debutant (George Burrows), but he bowled well after that. Hats off to him. Tom Bailey at the other end, he’s always a challenge on any pitch.
“We got ourselves into great positions and lost wickets at key times. Hopefully tomorrow myself and George (Hill) can start well and get some partnerships together and get some batting points.
“At Headingley there are some overheads, and it wasn’t easy – coming on and off for rain, that sort of thing. You need to keep yourselves switched on.
“There were a couple of soft dismissals in there. Harry Brook caught at point, for example. On another day, he’s smacking that for four.
“If we can get 250 plus, you never know.”
Lyth has now reached and gone beyond 50 seven times in 14 Roses first-class matches, including three hundreds: “It’s always nice to get runs against Lancashire in a Roses game,” he added.
“You need luck. Batting here is never easy, but getting bowled off a no ball helps!”
