Warwickshire will lay claim to the second-day honours at Headingley having set up a victory target of 185 to overcome Yorkshire in a fascinating Rothesay County Championship clash which could yet go the hosts’ way.
England star Joe Root top-scored with an excellent 90 off 131 balls in Yorkshire’s second-innings 232 all out, concluded just before close. The Bears ended the day on 15-0 from three overs of their chase.
There were other contributors to the White Rose’s cause, but the England legend led the way.
New Zealand quick Ben Sears completed a return of 4-45 from 12 overs in Warwickshire’s first innings and will be key to Yorkshire’s hopes of a turnaround tomorrow.
Warwickshire’s Ethan Bamber struck four times in the second innings having taken five wickets in the first. He has been the match’s standout performer so far, returning match figures of 9-107.
The day started with Warwickshire, replying to a first-innings 205, advancing from 161-6 to 253 all out. Australian Test all-rounder Beau Webster made his way to an excellen 85 off 86 balls on his debut.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Ben Sears finished the first innings with four wickets this morning, and Yorkshire will likely require him again tomorrow.
Webster was the last Bear out three-quarters-of-an-hour before lunch, caught on the pull against Sears.
Adam Lyth made 40 at the start of Yorkshire’s second innings, which started with a deficit of 48.
Warwickshire built significant early pressure with the new ball. Bamber bowled opener Dom Bess in the third over, leaving the score at 9-1.
And, either side of lunch, that was the first of seven successive maidens bowled by himself and new-ball partner Olly Hannon-Dalby.
James Wharton was run out at the non-striker’s end during the early stages of the afternoon following a mix-up with Lyth, who went on to share a third-wicket 71 with Root from 19-2.
Both look assured, though Lyth fell for 40 when he edged behind to Ed Barnard, leaving Yorkshire at 90-3 in the 28th over.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Beau Webster scoops Ben Coad for six this morning.
Root and England team-mate Harry Brook – one and two in the Test Match batting rankings – then shared 53 for the fourth wicket.
But Brook fell lbw for 20, playing around a full ball from seamer Michael Booth shortly before tea, where the hosts reached at 152-4 with a lead of 104.
Jonny Bairstow top-edged a pull at Bamber behind on six, with wicketkeeper Kai Smith taking a smart running catch, before George Hill edged Barnard to second slip. And when Jordan Thompson miscued to cover as Barnard struck for a third time, Yorkshire were 190-7 in the 60th over, leading by 142.
At the other end, Root looked in excellent order in his 100th first-class innings for the county, hitting 13 fours in 131 balls. The one he scored in the first innings seemed a long time ago.
He reached his fifty off 64, and one driven boundary straight of mid-off against Webster was particularly memorable.
Unfortunately, however, he missed out on a century when he top-edged a pull to backward point off Bamber – 219-8.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Yorkshire Root during his 90 today.
Ben Coad hit what could be a crucial 28, but Booth bowled Jordan Buckingham to wrap up the innings. Sandwiched in between, Sears had miscued Bamber to backward point, where Dan Mousley took a smart catch above his head.
Warwickshire openers Alex Davies and Rob Yates then survived the three overs before close.
Sears struck twice with the ball this morning, though the Bears will have been chuffed to make it up to 250, securing a solitary batting point.
They had tall Aussie Webster to thank for that.
He scooped Coad for six down towards the Howard Stand early in proceedings and, after reaching his fifty off 54 balls, showed his power by muscling Buckingham through the off-side for a trio of boundaries off front and back foot as the visitors moved into the lead.
Sears and Hill equally shared the four wickets to fall, the latter striking first.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Ben Coad will be front and centre during a big first hour tomorrow.
He had nightwatchman Hannon-Dalby caught behind by Bairstow, who claimed three catches this morning.
Webster and wicketkeeper-batter Kai Smith (19) shared 74 for the eighth wicket before Smith also fell to Hill.
Sears then removed Booth with Bairstow’s help before Webster, looking for quick runs with only Bamber for company, pulled the same bowler to Hill at mid-wicket to end the innings.
