Roundup: Yorkshire close on promotion as rain falls
With the floodlights on, stewards in gloves, spectators crisply hunched and an unkind wind blowing past the East Stand, Yorkshire crept closer towards the First Division.
Yorkshire need a maximum of 10 points to be guaranteed top-flight cricket next year, and secured two of them as Northamptonshire crumbled, though with their nearest rivals Middlesex marooned at Hove, the magic number is likely to be smaller. The morning sun had shone brightly in Leeds, but troublesome damp patches caused a five-hour delay as a succession of men, including Yorkshire chair Colin Graves in a pea coat, examined them.
Once underway, Ben Coad struck in his second over, then Krish Patel had a terrific start to his Championship career with a flurry of boundaries, before being caught at second slip for 26. There were two wickets for George Hill, who was presented with his county cap on Thursday by Jonny Bairstow. Coad then added Saif Zaib to his tally, his 300th first-class wicket (each one coming in at an average under 20), to a warm ovation from the crowd and his teammates.
At Trent Bridge, 19-year-old Freddie McCann’s second Championship century, a gorgeous, plucky innings against Warwickshire, took Nottinghamshire nearer to safety. With two batting points in the bag, they need only to avoid defeat to remain in Division One. Hampshire’s Kyle Abbott ripped through the Somerset second innings at Taunton, to leave them four down and scores level. Elsewhere, the day two curtains were drawn on five games without a ball bowled.
With dusk settling over Leeds, and the covers being pushed on, time for me to head home. Thanks for your company as ever and have a peaceful Friday night.
