Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. George Hill takes the return catch to dismiss Warwickshire’s Alex Davies this morning.
Yorkshire were denied what would have been a third Rothesay County Championship win of the season, with Warwickshire batter Sam Hain steering his side towards the safety of a day-four draw at Scarborough.
The White Rose had much the better of a Division One fixture played out on a slower than usual North Marine pitch, and they were well on their way this morning when the Bears slipped from 44-1 overnight to 93-4, including two wickets in one George Hill over.
Unfortunately, though, Hain – a thorn in Yorkshire’s side at Edgbaston last month – was it again as he shared fifth and sixth-wicket partnerships of 87 and 86 with Beau Webster and captain Ed Barnard to help the visitors to a close total of 333-8.
Hain’s 69 came off 218 balls, while Barnard made 58. They both fell inside the final 19 overs to raise home hopes, but it wasn’t to be and Yorkshire move up to sixth in the table with 16 points, as many again behind leaders Essex with seven games to play.
Both sides came into this North Marine Road fixture searching for their third win in seven matches; Warwickshire third in the table and Yorkshire eighth. The gap, though, was only 15 points.
Yorkshire, having taken 16 points to 12 here, have now cut that gap to four points between the two sides and jump up to seventh. Warwickshire are fourth.
Hill claimed two wickets in the 21st over of the innings, the sixth of the day, to leave the visitors at 63-3 – one with the first ball and the other with the last – and get the ball rolling on a clinical final day performance.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Dom Bess is congratulated after dismissing Warwickshire’s Beau Webster this afternoon.
Hill took a sharp one-handed return catch going to his right to remove opener Alex Davies before getting a driving Dan Mousley caught at second slip.
Mousley had hit three of his first four balls to the boundary.
Credit to nightwatchman Ethan Bamber, who did his job and batted into the second half of the morning for 23.
But he fell courtesy of a fine tumbling catch from Jack White at long-leg following a pull at Hassan Ali. White held on and came to rest on his back just inches inside the rope in front of the pavilion, leaving the score at 93-4.
Early in his 49, Australian Webster offered a return catch to Ben Cliff, similar to the one Hill held. Unfortunately Cliff couldn’t repeat the trick, albeit this time off a leading edge.
Webster and Hain took their side to 139-4 at lunch.
Last night, in his post day media duties, Hill spoke about the need for Yorkshire to be patient today. And this was exactly what he meant.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. A general view of Scarborough’s North Marine Road pavilion taken during today’s morning session.
Webster and Hain are arguably Warwickshire’s best batters, and they were looking settled on a pitch lacking pace.
There was little sign of aggression, although Webster did punch two boundaries off the back foot through cover in the space of three balls against Dom Bess, only to be bowled later in the over playing back again as the score fell to 180-5 in the 59th over.
Strangely, with a side looking to save a game, it was the second time in the day that a batter had fallen having earlier hit multiple boundaries in the over.
Hain, who had drilled a Bess full toss over long-on for six before lunch, reached his fifty off 142 balls as the visitors made it to tea on 237 for five with 35 overs remaining. Hain had 63 and Barnard 28.
Yorkshire took the new ball early in the evening session, but Hain and Barnard – the latter who posted an unbeaten 83 in the first innings – resisted.
There was a moment of light-hearted fun between Hassan, Hain and Jonny Bairstow.
Hassan, bowling to Hain, followed through and switched the bails around at the striker’s end Stuart Broad style for a change of luck. So Hain put them back as they were, only for Bairstow to run from behind the stumps and switch them back again.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Sam Hain was the thorn in Yorkshire’s side today.
Yorkshire had their tails up when Bess had Hain caught at short-leg – 266-6 with almost 19 overs remaining.
Barnard then reached his fifty in 96 balls but fell caught behind off Matthew Revis with 13.3 left.
Unfortunately, though Zen Malik and Manav Suthar held firm for Warwickshire. Suthar was even happy to play his shots as the White Rose went at him with the short ball.
Hassan actually had him caught behind early in the last over, but it was too little, too late.
Yorkshire, for who Will Luxton starred in this match with 167 and 69, are back in action against Leicestershire at Grace Road, starting Friday. Hill finished with the pick of the figures today, 3-32 from 14 overs.
