Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. George Hill at the crease on day three against Durham today.
Yorkshire are desperate to finish the season with a bang tomorrow.
“We’re not thinking about going through the motions this last game. Our aim is definitely to win this game of cricket tomorrow,” said all-rounder George Hill, fresh from a season’s best 88 on day three against Durham at Headingley.
Tomorrow could be one heck of a finale to the summer.
Yorkshire are almost safe from relegation in Division One of the Rothesay County Championship, and Durham are hoping they will be too.
There are variables. Yorkshire would be safe no matter what the result here as long as visitors Surrey beat Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl, the hosts 148-9 chasing 181.
Should Hampshire win, Yorkshire just need a draw.
Durham’s situation is more complex, certainly so should Hampshire win. If that were the case, they would need to win here. It’s difficult to see how they do that with Yorkshire 465-9 in reply to a first-innings 346 all out.
If Hampshire lose, Durham would be safe with a draw.
Yorkshire, though, as Hill said, have one thing in mind. A fourth victory of the summer in red-ball cricket.
Hill was excellent today in posting the best of his four Championship fifties in 2025, a 149-ball innings which included 14 fours. He shared half-centuries stands for the sixth and eighth wickets with Matthew Revis and Jordan Thompson.
Revis contributed 38, Thompson an unbeaten 44 after Yorkshire started a weather-affected 51-over day on 314-5. There was no play possible beyond 3.25pm because of bad light.
Hill smiled: “A few of the lads were watching that Hampshire v Surrey game and watching that unfold. But we’re in a good position here.
“We just tried to bat for as long as we could today.
“Our aim yesterday when we started batting was to be batting by tea today, and we’ve managed to do that through to close of play. So we’re pretty happy.
“I think all the lads have taken responsibility.
“As I said, we tried to bat for as long as possible. Jordan Thompson’s probably played against his natural game. It was very mature of him, and he’s done a very good job for us.
“There was not much thought process from me other than see ball and play it on its merit. There was nothing like trying to force the scoreboard. If it was a ball to hit, I’d try and hit it. If it was on the stumps, defend it. It was a pretty simple game plan.
“Durham have trucked in all day. They’ve bowled a lot of sets to be fair, so full credit to those guys.
“But it was nice to spend a little bit of time in the middle and save my best until last.
“It was a mix of emotions because if you’d have given me that at the start of the day, I’d have snapped your hand off for it. But, at the same time, 12 more runs!
“As I said, I’m more worried about the team in that situation.”
