Lyth gives Yorkshire upper hand over Sussex
Yorkshire’s Adam Lyth zinged to his fifth first-class century, nimble as the weasel that darted about Anne Brontë’s grave in the morning sun. The Scarborough faithful delighted in his innings and his passage past a thousand runs for the summer, as they did in James Wharton’s seventh fifty – though he once more missed out on a hundred, shuffling away after being bowled for 85. With a lead of 70 over Sussex, Yorkshire are well placed in what feels like a must-win game to avoid relegation.
Emilio Gay’s sparkling 99 gave Durham an outside chance of causing the leaders, Surrey, a few headaches, though two late wickets stacked the equation southwards. The morning session at Chester-le-Street was taken up by Surrey hot-trotting another 140 runs, spearheaded by Jordan Clark’s 82; Ben Raine finished with five for 72.
Meanwhile Nottinghamshire kept in the game at Trent Bridge, thanks to a third century of the season from Haseeb Hameed – who also passed 1,000 runs. Somerset lost seven for 100 in a hurry.
Kent defied Leicestershire, built largely by an unbeaten 101 from Ben Compton, another 1,000-run graduate. Earlier Tom Scriven missed out on his first first-class century by one run. Jimmy Anderson’s 43rd birthday present from his Lancashire teammates was a collapse of seven wickets for 30 at Old Trafford as Glamorgan’s Mason Crane collected six for 19.
Essex piled up 602 for six declared against Warwickshire, with hundreds from Charlie Allison, Tom Westley and Michael Pepper. Half-centuries from Luke Procter, George Bartlett and Justin Broad kept Northants in the game against Derbyshire. Middlesex are on top against Gloucestershire, Kane Williamson collecting 153.
And an unbeaten partnership of 126 between Jake Libby and Adam Hose steadied Worcestershire against Hampshire at New Road.
Three late finishes, but no two-day wrap ups. Thanks for the rhubarb cake and the company, happy birthday to a no doubt disgruntled Jimmy Anderson, and have a lovely evening all. Good night!
