Yorkshire’s batters enjoyed an encouraging opening day in the face of challenging conditions as they had the better of Durham at the Banks Homes Riverside.
Aiming for back-to-back Rothesay County Championship victories, Yorkshire were inserted on a green-tinged pitch at the start of a chilly and overcast day and were boosted by half-centuries for James Wharton, George Hill and Dom Bess, who made 69, 64 and 57 respectively.
Bess will return to the crease in the morning, hoping to advance Yorkshire from 295-8 from 81 overs. Bad light ended the day early, with no play possible beyond 5.30pm.
They repelled the threat of a Durham attack who struggled to create pressure early and late in the day.
Wharton faced 109 balls, Hill 88 and Bess 79, the latter pulling the day’s only six after tea during a seventh-wicket partnership of 105 with fellow all-rounder Hill.
Picture by Stu Forster/Getty Images. James Wharton acknowledges reaching 50.
Australia A seamer Brendan Doggett impressed for Durham with figures of 4-69 from 19 overs.
Anthony McGrath opted to make two changes to the team which beat Worcestershire by 504 runs at Headingley last weekend. Ben Sears and Matthew Revis replaced Ben Coad and Will Luxton, the former rested ahead of a busy period of four-day cricket next month.
Yorkshire started steadily through openers Adam Lyth and Fin Bean, who shared 43 before both falling to Doggett in the 18th over for 28 and 15 respectively.
Durham didn’t hit their straps immediately.
They improved as the morning went on, with Doggett breaking through when he had Lyth caught at square-leg following a miscued pull and then Bean lbw playing back.
Picture by John Heald. Brendan Doggett appeals for a wicket at the Banks Home Riverside this morning.
Wharton and Dawid Malan steadied through to lunch, where the visitors reached at 75-2 from 31 overs.
By that stage, the floodlights were on and there had been a touch of morning rain which the play continued through.
Both sides enjoyed periods of success, and it remained pretty even through until tea, where Yorkshire reached at 200-6, with Wharton one of the afternoon wickets.
Malan was the first of them, caught at first slip as he pushed forwards at Doggett, falling for 18 as the score became 92-3 in the 36th over.
Swing was more obvious than seam throughout today’s play, which was very engaging.
Picture by John Heald. Jonny Bairstow greets his former Yorkshire team-mate Alex Lees at the toss this morning.
Jonny Bairstow contributed 22 off 27 balls, digging in first before sparking into life. It took the White Rose captain 11 balls to get off the mark before he hit England Test seamer Matthew Potts for five fours in a six-ball spell across two overs.
There were scorching drives and a vicious pull included. It was just a shame that we didn’t see more of it as Bairstow was trapped lbw playing back against Ben Raine’s seam, leaving Yorkshire at 137-4 in the 47th over.
Doggett was Durham’s standout bowler today, and further success came his way just under seven overs later when Wharton pulled a short ball out to deep mid-wicket having earlier reached his fifty off 85 balls.Wharton had been dropped in the slips on 52.
And when Will Rhodes had Matthew Revis caught at first slip for seven, Yorkshire were 190-6 shortly before tea.
Swing was the obvious threat today, but Yorkshire were about to assert their authority thanks to the excellence of Hill and Bess.
Picture by John Heald. Dom Bess and George Hill congratulate each other upon sharing a century partnership. Both men contributed vital fifties.
Wharton had reached his fifty off 85 balls earlier in the day, Hill got to his off 71 and Bess 62. Bess pulled Doggett for six.
Just before the light closed in, Raine struck twice in two balls with the new ball, getting Hill caught at second slip and Jordan Thompson at mid-on. But this was Yorkshire’s day.
