Picture by John Heald. Jordan Thompson plays off his legs on the way to 38 on day two versus Sussex today.
Yorkshire were unable to capitalise on a handy start with the bat as they were bowled out for 194 just after tea on day two against Sussex before hitting back impressively with the ball at The 1st Central County Ground, Hove.
The White Rose county, having elected to bat, were 69-0, 87-1 and 100-2 but were limited to sub-200 by a Sussex side who are also in the Rothesay County Championship relegation conversation at the business end of the summer.
The start to this penultimate round Division One clash was delayed by a day due to a wet outfield and high winds yesterday. When play started, Adam Lyth top-scored for the visitors with a patient 47 off 93 balls before Jordan Thompson later contributed 38 as wickets started to fall.
In all, 14 fell, with Matt Milnes striking twice as Sussex closed on 84-4 from 23.1 overs, with 13 overs not bowled from the day’s allotted 104. The hosts trail by 110.
This round started with Sussex 12 points clear of second-bottom Durham and Yorkshire with a nine-point cushion.
Yorkshire will be mightily frustrated that after a poor effort with the bat on day four of the draw at Somerset last week – 134-9 in the first innings – they were unable to respond with a strong display here on a bright but chilly South Coast day.
The morning session was an even affair, with Yorkshire starting solidly as left-handers Adam Lyth and Fin Bean shared 69 inside 25 overs for the first wicket.
Picture by John Heald. Adam Lyth attacks against the off-spin of Jack Carson this morning.
The pair had to be vigilant against testing new-ball spells from Ollie Robinson and Indian left-arm quick Jaydev Unadkat, who had a few confident lbw and caught behind appeals.
This Hove pitch looks a good one for batting, though was always going to do a bit early given the recent wet weather in this area.
But Lyth and Bean looked increasingly settled, the former cutting, driving and pulling against seam and hoisting Jack Carson’s off-spin down the ground for one of his six boundaries.
Unfortunately, Sussex struck twice during the second half of the morning, with Yorkshire reaching lunch at 87-2 in the 30th over.
Bean was caught behind cutting at Fynn Hudson-Prentice’s seam – 69-1 – before Lyth was caught behind off the inside-edge driving against left-arm seamer Sean Hunt in the final over of the session.
And there were further issues after lunch, with three more wickets falling quickly as the score slipped to 105-5 in the 40th.
Robinson had James Wharton caught low down at first slip pushing forwards before Jonny Bairstow was bowled through the gate by Unadkat, who then had Matthew Revis caught behind by one which was angled in and jagged away late.
Picture by John Heald. Captains John Simpson and Jonny Bairstow at the toss this morning.
All three men fell for single-figures scores.
So too did George Hill and Dom Bess, who were next to go, with Yorkshire in significant bother at 115-7 in the 44th.
Hill and Bess fell to successive deliveries from Hudson-Prentice.
Hill chased one outside off-stump and was caught at first slip before Bess was caught behind down leg against his first ball.
Thompson and Mayank Agarwal then shared 52 for the eighth wicket to settle things somewhat, Thompson playing positively the India overseas batter digging in.
Thompson’s innings was best summed up as controlled aggression. He played nicely to follow last week’s final day half-century in the draw against Somerset at Taunton.
His first boundary was his best, beautifully driven through the covers off Hudson-Prentice.
Picture by John Heald. Jonny Bairstow grasps the chance to remove Oli Carter as George Hill claims a fortuitous assist.
However, Agarwal – for 26 – was caught at second slip pushing forwards against his compatriot Unadkat just before tea, where the White Rose reached at 175-8 after 58 overs.
The floodlights were turned on at tea, and Sussex started with spin from both ends.
Carson trapped Thompson, pushing forwards, at the start of the session’s third over – 179-9 in the 61st – before Jack White edged a drive to slip off the Irishman a few overs later.
Consolation for Yorkshire came in the form of a strong Worcestershire opening day with the bat against Durham at Banks Homes Riverside. The division’s only relegated side so far closed on 320-5 in their first innings.
Yorkshire were certainly buoyed by an early White wicket as Sussex replied, with Australian opener Daniel Hughes undone by extra bounce and edging a low catch to Bean at third slip – 10-1 in the fifth over.
More success came when Milnes trapped Tom Haines lbw for 20 before the dismissal of Oli Carter for 16 came with a bit of fortune.
Milnes induced the edge, but the initial chance was dropped at first slip by Hill. Thankfully, however, he dropped it onto wicketkeeper Bairstow’s boot and the latter grasped the rebound before it hit the turf – 47-3 in the 12th over.
Picture by John Heald. Matt Milnes struck twice with the ball after tea.
Tom Alsop and James Coles settled things for Sussex with a 37-run stand before the latter chipped Hill to mid-wicket with the score on 84 in the 22nd over.
Umpires Tom Lungley and Jack Shantry then took the players off at 6.05pm – seven balls after the wicket – and Tom Alsop 17 and John Simpson 0 will resume tomorrow.
With wickets falling today, a positive result for either side is now very realistic despite the weather intervening yesterday. If it doesn’t again, this could be a fascinating finish.
