Yorkshire halt the slide with draw at Trent Bridge
Yorkshire dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s on a high-scoring draw with Nottinghamshire to give themselves a much-needed fillip ahead of Monday’s Roses blockbuster with Lancashire at Headingley, another side haunted by the fear of relegation.
Yorkshire claimed 12 points and ended a run of two defeats to Worcestershire and Somerset as, replying to a first-innings 448, they posted 498 and went beyond 400 for the first time this summer. It was their highest score since posting 557 for six in a win over Surrey in May 2016.
The White Rose county started day four on 357 for five, needing 43 runs in seven overs to reach 400 for a fifth batting bonus point. That race was won, with Tom Kohler-Cadmore advancing from 92 overnight to post his first Championship century since moving from Worcestershire midway through last summer.
Kohler-Cadmore, an England Lions one-day player, has only played three four-day matches this summer, including this, due to selection and unavailability, but he showed middle order patience which belies a buccaneering limited overs opener.
He was bowled for 106 cutting at Samit Patel (six for 114) four balls into the 110th over, the last before the bonus points cut off. That left Matthew Waite needing five from two balls to reach 400, and he hit both for four. Tim Bresnan also hit 80 before opening the bowling with a lead of 50 and 46 overs remaining in the day. Notts finished on 93 for one from 31.
Yorkshire are second bottom and just one point behind Lancashire with three left to play. The Red Rose only have two remaining, so their need for victory is much greater. Yorkshire’s captain Steve Patterson will return from three games out with a broken finger.
In the Division Two promotion race, the top three sides, Warwickshire, Kent and Sussex, are separated by only 12 points. Kent comfortably defended 320 to beat Northamptonshire at Canterbury and win for the eighth time. New Zealand quick Matt Henry claimed eleven wickets and took them back to second place, five clear of Sussex.
Leaders Warwickshire narrowly missed out on victory over Durham during a thrilling final day at Edgbaston. Durham’s Indian left-arm spinner Axar Patel claimed a career best seven for 54 as the Bears were bowled out for a second-innings 199, setting a target of 218 in the final 41 overs. Durham finished on 115 for eight to secure a draw. Meanwhile, Gloucestershire dealt a near final blow to Middlesex’s promotion hopes with a draw at Bristol.
Northants have signed towering Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani, 21, on a three-year Kolpak contract, while Essex have offered Australian bowler Peter Siddle a new two-year deal.
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We are all wrapped here at Trent Bridge. Notts finish on 93-1 in their second innings, a lead of 40. Both sides take 12 points, with Nottinghamshire strengthening their position in mid-table. Yorkshire are second bottom and one point behind Lancashire, who they face next week.
Division One result
Nottinghamshire (448 & 93/1d) drew with Yorkshire (498)
Division Two results
Gloucestershire (296 & 251/8d) drew with Middlesex (242 & 111/5)
Kent (137 & 287) beat Northants (105 & 217) by 102 runs
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Durham are 34-3, and now Warwickshire have a sniff of victory with the best part of 28 overs remaining. Meanwhile, a wicket for Josh Poysden at Trent Bridge. Notts 91-1. We are 15 minutes away from an early handshake.
Looking at the scorecard, it’s clear Middlesex have given up on the chase of 306 and are trying to hold on for the draw. They are 36 for four in the 12th over of 40 to be bowled at Bristol. James Fuller and Sam Robson are currently resisting. Durham 25 for 1 in the 10th at Edgbaston.
Durham have slipped to 10 for 1 chasing 218 at Edgbaston, with Alex Lees falling lbw to Keith Barker for a duck. They are through seven of 41 overs there. Middlesex are 34 for 4 at Bristol and pretty much goners there.
Here at Trent Bridge, this game is drifting to a conclusion. We haven’t yet got to the batsmen bowling, or even the wicketkeeper, but we soon will. Notts 62 for 0, leading by 12.
Durham need 218 in 41 overs to beat Warwickshire at Edgbaston and put the cat amongst the pigeons at the top of Division Two after bowling their hosts out for 199 second time around. Axar Patel finishes with a career best seven for 54.
Middlesex collapsing but still going for it. They have slipped to 22 for three at Bristol, losing Stirling, Gubbins and Malan cheaply. Morgan and Fuller in now.
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Kent beat Northamptonshire by 102 runs!
Kent have won for the eighth time this season, against Northants, who have been bowled out for 217 chasing 320. Matt Henry finished with four wickets, but Joe Denly’s leg-spinners mopped up the last two. Kent are now five points clear of Sussex in the race for second, and they will be within range of the leaders Warwickshire as well with three to play. Middlesex, meanwhile, are 3 for 1. Paul Stirling run out. Oops.
RUN OUT : James Bracey (out of shot) runs out Stirling for 3 in the 1st over with a direct hit. @Middlesex_CCC 3-1 (target 306 in 40 overs) pic.twitter.com/q2Tiv3EHaj
— Gloucestershire CCC (@Gloscricket) September 7, 2018
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Gloucestershire have declared their second innings on 251 for eight, leaving Middlesex needing an extremely stiff 306 from 40 overs. They have to go for it given their last-chance saloon situation in the Division Two promotion race. For Gloucester, Miles Hammond finished 123 not out.
Game on at Edgbaston. Warwickshire are slipping in their second innings – 157 for four to 173 for seven, and they lead by 191 with 47 overs remaining. Axar Patel, Durham’s Indian spinner, has four wickets. Game drifting to an early handshake here at Trent Bridge. Notts 19 for 0 in their second innings.
Yorkshire are all out for 498. Tim Bresnan has dragged Jake Libby’s part-time off-spin to mid-on, falling for 80. Yorkshire lead by 50 with a minimum of 46 overs remaining in the game (unless there’s an expected early handshake).
Wickets after lunch … only a brief rain shower here. Yorkshire are 496 for nine, with Samit Patel removing Jack Brooks to claim his sixth wicket. Tim Bresnan has 80 and is trying to steer Yorkshire to their first total of 500 since May 2016.
Northants are 187 for seven chasing that 320 at Canterbury, with Kent looking set to return to second in Division Two. Gloucester are 210 for seven against Middlesex at Bristol with a lead of 264. Time is running out for Middlesex to force the win they so desperately need as they bid for an immediate return to Division One.
Lunch
Lunch around the grounds. At Trent Bridge, Yorkshire are 484-8, leading Notts by 36 at the back end of their first innings. Tim Bresnan is 72 not out and Samit Patel has five wickets, the last of which was Mat Pillans lbw at the start of the morning’s final over. It has just started raining through the break.
In Division Two, Northants, chasing 320 to beat Kent at Canterbury, have reached 169-6, with Adam Rossington unbeaten on 40. They have lost three wickets this morning and are a long way from victory. Northants have this afternoon confirmed the Kolpak signing of Blessing Muzarabani, a 21-year-old fast bowler who has played all forms of the game for Zimbabwe.
Leaders Warwickshire are 113-4 at Edgbaston, leading Durham by 131. That game looks to heading for a draw. It is similar at Bristol, where Gloucestershire are frustrating Middlesex. They have reached 167-5, leading by 221.
Warwickshire have steadied following the loss of those two quick wickets mentioned earlier. Sam Hain and Tim Ambrose are nearing a half-century partnership, taking their side to 110 for four with a lead of 128 over Durham at Edgbaston.
Gloucestershire’s fifth-wicket pair Miles Hammond and Jack Taylor continue to frustrate Middlesex at Bristol. They have batted through the morning unbroken, taking the home lead up towards 200. If Middlesex don’t win, considering Sussex have won and Kent are likely to (Northants 135 for six chasing 320 at Canterbury), I think that will be the end of their promotion hopes.
Here, Tim Bresnan has reached his half-century, and Yorkshire are level at 448 for six. Matthew Waite is unbeaten on 29.
Interesting. Two quick wickets for Axar Patel and Barry McCarthy at Edgbaston, getting Dom Sibley and Jonathan Trott respectively, have opened the door for Durham at Warwickshire. The Bears are 70 for four with a lead of 88 and plenty of time left. Here, Yorkshire’s innings is drifting. They are 422 for six having added 19 in the last nine overs. Tim Bresnan has 43 and Matthew Waite 17. They trail by 26.
Miles Hammond has just reached 50 for Gloucestershire as they frustrate Middlesex at Bristol. The hosts, at 112 for four, lead by 166. Northants have lost a wicket this morning, leaving them 98 for four chasing 320. Matt Henry continues his remarkable season having trapped Richard Levi lbw.
Yorkshire have secured their fifth batting point by reaching 403 for six after 110 overs. Tom Kohler-Cadmore was bowled for 106 with the fourth ball of the 110th, trying to make room against Samit Patel. Then, with five needed from two deliveries to get to 400, Matthew Waite hit his first two balls for four. The gap between themselves (second bottom) and Lancashire (third bottom) will be one point heading into next week’s Roses match.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore has reached his century off 225 balls, and Yorkshire are within range of this batting point. They are 383 for five after five balls of the 107th. Tim Bresnan has just hit back-to-back boundaries off Matt Milnes.
Preamble
Good morning from Trent Bridge, where it is a gloriously sunny morning for the second day running, bringing about a lovely 10-minute stroll to the ground through West Bridgford for yours truly. This is the only Division One game still in progress, and we are almost certainly heading for a draw unless something remarkable happens.
Yorkshire will begin the day on 357 for five in reply to Notts’ first-innings 448, and they have to decide whether to chase a fifth batting bonus point. For that, they need 43 runs in seven overs. That would almost certainly give them a 12-point haul from this game.
They would remain second-bottom and in the relegation zone, but only by a point from Lancashire directly above them. The two meet at Headingley from Monday. Tom Kohler-Cadmore begins the day unbeaten on 92, chasing his first Championship century for Yorkshire.
There are three matches to finish in Division Two, two of them involving teams in the promotion race. Leaders Warwickshire (28 for one in their second innings and leading by 46) look set to be held by Durham at Edgbaston, while Kent are chasing a home win over Northamptonshire that would return them to second place at the expense of Sussex. Northants, chasing 320, will begin the final day on 56 for three.
The final game looks set for a tense and exciting finish at Bristol, where Middlesex are chasing a win over Gloucestershire to stay in the promotion hunt. Having conceded a first-innings lead of 50, the visitors have reduced Gloucester to 87 for four second time around. The lead stands at 141.
Back to Trent Bridge, and both sides are just about to begin their morning game of football. Yorkshire’s is being played out directly in front of the press box, with Adam Lyth, a former Manchester City youth trialist in goal and loving every minute.
