Scorecard

Joe Root

“If we’re being brutally honest as a side, we were behind the game for the majority of it.

“Notts played all the cricket and might feel hard done by not to get more out of the game.

“But it showed great character and fight to make sure we did get something. We’ll take that confidence forwards.

“It’s pleasing to come out of the game with something and to be not out at the end.

“You want to set the example if you like and try to use your experience.

“If I’m being honest I think I rode my luck on occasions, and credit has to go to Notts.

“I thought Gary played magnificently. He also had to take a bit of a barrage. He played it slightly differently to me, but it was just as effective.

“It was a crucial partnership, and it’s a good habit to get into at the start of the year. As a Yorkshire side, we struggled last year with finding ourselves three, four and five down quite early.”

5.04pm HUNDRED! Ballance reaches his century off 216 balls with a six over mid-wicket off Patel (101 not out). And the match is drawn. Yorkshire finish on 277-2, with Root 130 not out. Superb effort today – 9-point haul.

4.34pm HUNDRED! Root has his seventh Championship century for Yorkshire, off 145 balls with 16 fours. Yorkshire on the verge of a draw at 229-2.

4.28pm It would take something special for Notts from here. Root and Ballance continue their third-wicket stand, which has moved to 196. Yorkshire are 220-2 with 30 overs remaining. There is a new ball due in 14 overs time, but it will surely come too late.

Tea Yorkshire are on course to secure an opening round Specsavers County Championship draw against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge thanks to unbeaten third-wicket pair Joe Root and Gary Ballance.

Set a target of 447 before day four, Yorkshire then slipped to 24-2 inside eleven overs.

But England Test captain Root and Ballance have since batted unbroken through to tea, where Yorkshire have reached at 181-2 from 59 overs.

Root is unbeaten on 86 and in sight of his seventh Championship century for Yorkshire. Ballance is unbeaten on 52.

Root reached his second fifty of the match – he hit 73 in the first innings – off 92 balls having survived a huge appeal for caught behind against Paul Coughlin on 46.

He hit four fours in five balls against the same bowler an over later.

Ballance was almost run out on 42 as he went for a quick single to cover, but he brought up his half-century off 167 balls on the stroke of tea.

3.38pm Coughlin bowling to Ballance on 48 with seven close catchers in, six of them in front of the wicket. But Ballance moves to 52 off 167 balls. 180-2 on the stroke of tea.

3.16pm A couple of results elsewhere, Hampshire have beaten Essex at the Ageas Bowl and, in Division Two, Leicestershire have won at Sussex.

2.50pm Root reaches 52 off 92 balls with 7×4s, his second fifty of the match. 126-2. Root and Ballance have shared 102 for the third wicket.

2.44pm Let off for Root? Paul Coughlin is convinced he has the England captain caught behind off the glove after an attempted pull at a short ball on 46. Umpire David Millns is unmoved. 112-2 in the 45th.

2.16pm Yorkshire going ok here at 97-2 after 38 overs. Root (38) and Ballance (26) have shared 73 and counting for the third wicket. 58 overs remaining.

Lunch Gary Ballance and Joe Root have steadied the Yorkshire ship after the loss of two early wickets during the fourth morning against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Yorkshire are trying to avoid an opening round Specsavers County Championship defeat having been set a near impossible target of 447 from a minimum of 96 overs at the start of play.

They have reached lunch on 72-2 from 28 overs.

Notts captain Steven Mullaney declared overnight with Joe Clarke unbeaten on 97, three runs short of a second century in the match.

The White Rose then slipped to 24-2 inside eleven overs of their second innings, with Jake Ball doing the damage.

He had Harry Brook caught at third slip and bowled Adam Lyth off the inside edge as the left-hander tried to leave alone.

England captain Root ducked into a Stuart Broad bouncer with his first ball at the crease and was hit on the helmet. But he has reached lunch unbeaten on 22.

Ballance, 21 not out, and Root have added 48 for the third wicket.

12.40pm 20 minutes before lunch and spin is introduced by Steven Mullaney, Samit Patel from the Radcliffe Road End – the opposite end from where he got his three wickets in the first innings. Yorkshire 61-2.

11.53am We have a delay after Root ducked into a short ball from Broad, his first ball, and was hit on the helmet. He’s ok to continue. 25-2.

11.27am Harry Brook has edged Jake Ball to third slip, where Chris Nash takes a low catch. Yorkshire are 19-1 after seven overs. Gary Ballance joins Adam Lyth at the crease.

10.49am Notts have declared. Yorkshire have been set a target of 447 to win. Joe Clarke unbeaten on 97 for the hosts, three short of a second century in the match.

Good morning from Trent Bridge. We have another dry but overcast start to the day, almost identical to yesterday really.

Notts begin day four with a second-innings lead of 446. Usually, they would declare overnight, but Joe Clarke is unbeaten on 97 and within sight of a second century in the match – on Championship debut for the county having signed from Worcestershire.

We are expecting Notts to bat on for an over to allow Clarke to reach that milestone before Yorkshire bat to save the game.

Joe Root is fine to bat despite taking a blow on his left hand whilst fielding late on last night.

There is also the prospect of rain later in the day. Mind you, we said that last night and it did not arrive.

Enjoy the day.

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