Yorkshire seamer Ben Coad said
“It’s unfortunate that I’ve missed the last few games with that side strain, but it’s always nice to bowl at Headingley.
“It’s a seamer-friendly pitch, and thankfully I took advantage.
“I’ve been bowling a bit with the white ball because that’s the period I’ve been fit for. I was hoping to play in a couple of them. But I played in a second-team game at Weetwood and got a couple of spells under my belt. I feel fully fresh now.
“It’s a great achievement to be able to tick that off (150 first-class wickets), but I’m still young and it’s only the start of my career. So there’s still a lot more to get.
“I’m not 100 percent sure on the points situation and how many we’ll need to get. But we just want to put a big score on the board to drive this game home. Hopefully we can get a big partnership with Frainey (Will Fraine) and Lotes (Tom Loten) in the morning.
“It was a good toss to win and bowl. The wicket had a bit of give in it, so it seamed around. We picked a great ball as well, which swung around. It was very favourable.”
5.22pm – Close That’s it, unfortunately. The opening day has been abandoned. Yorkshire 36-2 in reply to Leicestershire’s 124. Take a bow Ben Coad, who led a brilliant bowling display with 5-18.
4.51pm After a brief window of hope when the rain stopped and the sun came out, we are back to square one. It’s chucking it down now.
4.02pm We’re coming off for rain, unfortunately. Yorkshire 36-2 after 12.1 overs replaying to 124. Fraine has 11 and Loten 7.
3.17pm It’s 4-2. Lyth caught behind off Klein.
3.12pm Kohler-Cadmore gone! He’s been caught at mid-wicket by Sam Evans off Alex Evans. 4-1 in the second over.
3.06pm The action is coming thick and fast. Lyth has been dropped off the first ball of the innings, by Ackermann at second slip off Klein.
Tea Report Ben Coad’s brilliant 5-18 from 13.2 overs led an outstanding Yorkshire bowling performance as Leicestershire were bowled out for 124, signalling an early tea, on day one at Emerald Headingley.
The White Rose county’s bid for a Lord’s final place in the Bob Willis Trophy is still very much alive.
They need to win this final round North Group game, accruing as many points as possible, and finish top of the group ahead of Derbyshire.
Coad, back from a torn oblique muscle for only his second four-day game of the summer – his first was the opening round win at Durham, claimed four of his wickets after lunch, where Leicester reached at 52-4.
Coad had Rishi Patel (19) caught at second slip by stand-in captain Adam Lyth – 59-5 in the 33rd over.
He then trapped Arron Lilley lbw and wrapped up the innings by getting Swindells caught behind by Jonny Tattersall and Alex Evans caught by Lyth, the latter two in successive balls in the 49th over.
In between, Matthew Fisher, who chipped in with 3-29 from 12 overs, had Ben Mike caught at third slip by Harry Brook, who also held on in the same position as Olivier got fellow South African Dieter Klein.
2.43pm Swindells gone! Coad’s return to the attack reaps immediate reward. Leicestershire’s wicketkeeper, having played nicely, edges behind for 36 with the first ball of the 49th. 124-9. Coad has been absolutely outstanding today. All of Yorkshire’s bowlers have done a job, but he has head and shoulders above.
And as I finish that sentence, he wraps up the innings by getting Alex Evans caught at second slip by Lyth. 124 all out. Coad 13.2-6-18-5.
2.36pm Oh no. Swindells is dropped at mid-wicket by Loten off Olivier on 34 having clothed a pull. Leicestershire 122-8 in the 47th.
2.25pm Another one goes, Klein falls to his compatriot Olivier, caught at third slip by Brook. 115-8 now.
2.20pm Swindells takes three successive boundaries off Olivier to move to 31 – Leicestershire 114-7 in the 44th over.
Elsewhere…..
North Group leaders Derbyshire have Lancashire 90-4 at Liverpool.
In the Central, the top two are playing each other and Somerset are 125-4 v Worcestershire at New Road.
In the South, Middlesex are 120-9 against leaders Essex at Chelmsford.
2.09pm Swindells and Mike have taken the visitors to 92-6 in the 42nd over. Swindells has 19 of them and Mike 11. The sun is beating down on Headingley now. It’s a lovely afternoon.
As I type, Mike has just pulled Fisher for six, moving to 17. Make that 98-6.
And as I finish that sentence, it’s 98-7 as Mike edges Fisher to Brook at third slip.
1.49pm Lilley has been trapped lbw by Coad for five. Leicestershire slump to 65-6.
1.31pm Patel’s been caught at second by Lyth off Coad, 19. 59-5 in the 32nd over. Much deserved second wicket for Coad.
12.58pm We should be underway reasonably quickly. The sun is out now. We may be delayed by 10 mins or so after lunch as the mopping up is finished off.
Lunch Report Matthew Fisher, Ben Coad and Duanne Olivier have all struck during a dominant opening morning of Yorkshire’s final Bob Willis Trophy North Group game against Leicestershire at Emerald Headingley.
Yorkshire, chasing a Lord’s final berth, reduced the Foxes to 36-4 inside 17 overs after electing to bowl first, with the visitors later reaching lunch at 52-4 from 28.1 – rain forced lunch five balls early.
Yorkshire realistically need to win this game to have any chance of toppling North Group leaders Derbyshire and reaching Lord’s as one of the two best placed group winners.
The hosts are without captain Steve Patterson due to back spasms, with Adam Lyth leading the four-day side for only the second time in his career.
Fisher and Coad were all over the Foxes with the new ball.
Fisher trapped both Hassan Azad (7-1 in the fourth over) and Foxes skipper Colin Ackermann (12-3 in the 10th) lbw in his first five-over spell.
Sandwiched in between, Coad also pinned Sam Evans in front as he conceded only four runs in his first six overs, including four maidens.
Harry Dearden threatened a Leicester recovery with a bright 20 under overcast skies, but he was the victim of a stunning, low one-handed return catch by South African quick Olivier as the score fell to 36-4 in the 17th.
Rishi Patel and Harry Swindells have since reached lunch unbeaten on 15 and five respectively.
12.30pm Rain brings about lunch five balls earlier than planned. Leicestershire 52-4 after 28.1 overs. Excellent morning for Yorkshire.
12.13pm Leicestershire are 47-4 after 24 overs, with Patel and Swindells in the early stages of their innings.
Elsewhere, leaders Somerset are 64-1 against Worcestershire in the Central, while leaders Essex have Middlesex 55-5 in the South.
11.44am Dearden gone! Stunning return catch, one handed (right) by Olivier, inches off turf. Umpires chatted re legitimacy, but the bowler claimed it immediately. Goes for 20. Leicester are 36-4 in the 17th.
11.28am Lancashire are 9-2 against Derbyshire at Liverpool. That one started half an hour late due to a wet outfield. Leicestershire 27-3 with Thompson and Olivier into the attack for Yorkshire.
11.14am What a start for Yorkshire and Matthew Fisher. He has just trapped Leicester skipper Ackermann lbw for one. They are 12-3 after 10 overs.
11am Sam Evans gone! He’s been trapped lbw by Coad, 7. The Foxes are 11-2 in the seventh.
10.46am Great start for Yorkshire courtesy of Fisher, who traps Azad lbw for a duck. Leicester are 7-1 in the fourth.
10.35am Ben Coad has started us with a maiden against Hassan Azad. Matthew Fisher to share the new ball, with Sam Evans on strike.
10.28am Both sets of players are about to observe a minute’s silence in memory of the late former Northants and England all-rounder David Capel, who passed away last week.
10.12am Team news….
Yorkshire: Lyth c, Kohler-Cadmore, Fraine, Brook, Loten, Tattersall w, Thompson, Fisher, Coad, Olivier, Shutt.
Leicestershire: Azad, Evans, Dearden, Ackermann c, Lilley, Swindells w, Patel, Mike, Klein, Griffiths, Evans.
10.06am The live stream for this fixture will be free to all, and it will be on our match centre page.
10.03am Yorkshire have won the toss and will bowl.
Adam Lyth will be captaining Yorkshire this week with Steve Patterson ruled out as a result of back spasms.
9.14am Here is a look at the tables and fixtures from each of the groups, only including those teams who can qualify.
NORTH
Derbyshire 71 points
Yorkshire 66
Yorkshire v Leicestershire, Headingley, Lancashire v Derbyshire, Liverpool
CENTRAL
Somerset 76
Worcestershire 70
Worcestershire v Somerset, New Road
SOUTH
Essex 70
Kent 63
Middlesex 59
Hampshire 54
Essex v Middlesex, Chelmsford, Kent v Hampshire, Canterbury
Good morning from Emerald Headingley, where it is a dry and bright start to the opening day of our Bob Willis Trophy clash with Leicestershire.
This is our final North Group fixture, and we will know come Wednesday evening whether or not we will be making a trip to a Lord’s final in a few weeks’ time.
The White Rose are right in the thick of the battle for a place in the five-day final, beginning on September 23.
But, realistically, they must win this game to have any chance of advancing.
To recap, only the two best group winners from the North, Central and South groups will advance.
Yorkshire are currently second in the North and five points behind Derbyshire, who are playing out of contention Lancashire at Liverpool. The visitors here, Leicestershire, are also out of contention.
Before we get going with the toss at 10am, we will run through a few permutations and fixtures elsewhere.
But, for now, the weather looks set fair and the players from both teams are warming up. As I type, Adam Lyth is batting in the nets placed near the Western Terrace.
We begin play at 10.30am. Enjoy the day.