As predicted we did not get any more play after the players went off for bad light just after 5pm leaving us with an intriguing day tomorrow.
Lancashire still have a slim chance of pulling this off. The unflappable Hameed and Smith set about the task well before tea, reaching 21 without loss by the interval and coping well with Brooks’ accuracy and Bresnan’s provoked aggression. It was a shock when Smith poked a tame shot to Plunkett at cover off Patterson for 15 but when the players departed for bad light 41 runs had been knocked off the target of 349 with no further losses.
Yorkshire are still firm favourites so join me tomorrow to see what happens. I just hope that racing pigeon is ok.
We’re still off for bad light. But meanwhile....
Possibly the most Yorkshire thing has happened here today at Headingley. A distressed racing pigeon has had to be rescued from the outfield.
— Jamie Bowman (@JamieBowman77) May 31, 2016
Slow going here at Headingley where Lancashire are doing their best to book in for the long haul as they chase a formidable target of 349 to win. In Haseeb Hameed they look to have the perfect candidate with the teenager’s leave a beauty to behold for anyone uncomfortable with the modern pace of life. The teenager has scored 15 so far off 65 balls and has been joined at the crease by Luke Procter after Tom Smith got out in a strangely soft way poking Patterson to Plunkett at cover for 15. We’ve got 18 overs left today and Plunkett is just coming on for his first spell of the innings. A few wickets now and it will undoubtedly be a day that belongs to the England paceman after he scored a battling 57 to help his side reach a decent total. At one point we went 41 balls and 27 mins without a run. It’s not thrilling as such but it is if you know what I mean …
Tea here at Headingley where Lancashire have survived unscathed for the opening eight overs and reached 21 in the process. Hameed had one scare when he edged through to the slips but the ball dropped well short of any Yorkshire fingers.
Smith has looked good for his 15 and Bresnan has looked the pick of the Yorkhire bowlers but for the first time today it’s been a pretty quiet period of play.
Lancashire will be without Tom Bailey for the rest of the match (he was not on the field today) after he picked up a side strain.
All over at Trent Bridge …
Match abandoned as a draw as the weather means there will be no further play, 12 points for each side #NottsvDurham
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) May 31, 2016
The Yorkshire innings has ended with Jack Brooks being bowled by Luke Procter for five. The hosts have done brilliantly to reach 236 all out thanks again to their lower order – 147 runs were put on for the last four wickets. Special mentions to Rashid (34), Bresnan (29) but most of all Plunkett (57) who epitomises the relentless nature of this Yorkshire side.
The target is 349 for Lancashire and with the lights still on and the wind still up it looks a formidable one. There’s 40 overs left in the day but I suspect with the surrounding gloom that might be optimistic. Bresnan’s opening the bowling and he is still not happy about the decision to give him out earlier judging by the way he’s charging in.
First win of the season for Sussex …
Sussex have beaten Derbyshire by 10 wickets for their first @CountyChamp victory of the season....
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) May 31, 2016
GOOD OLD SUSSEX BY THE SEA!!#GOSBTS
Good news on and off the pitch for Yorkshire as this game begins to drift away from Lancashire. Rashid and Plunkett have done a fine job here with a partnership of 70 for the eighth wicket continuing to grow. Rashid has well and truly dropped anchor allowing Plunkett to play in his usual aggressive manner and he’s reached 41 not out.
The lead now is 312 and the forecast is looking good so there is no massive rush as it stand. The Yorkies will not want to give their rivals a sniff so expect them to keep batting. And batting.
Meanwhile off the field Jason Gillespie has well and truly refuted the rumours he may be leaving his coaching job at Yorkshire for a role with Cricket Australia. The presence of Darren Lehman increased the rumours flying around Headingley but he’s just told the BBC: “I informed him that I wasn’t going to put my name forward and that I wasn’t going to apply for a role with Cricket Australia so I can end all the speculation.
“I wasn’t offered a job and I want to make that very clear and I’ve made it very clear to Cricket Australia and Darren that I’m not going to apply for any role at Cricket Australia.
“I’m not looking too far ahead. Obviously we’ve got a lot of cricket left this season and then with the [Adelaide] Strikers at the end of the year. I’m enjoying my roles.”
That’s the end of a captivating session here at Headingley where Yorkshire have extended their lead to 266 runs with three wickets remaining. You’d think it’s probably enough already judging by the scores in this match so far but Lancashire have given themselves a slither of hope by taking four wickets this morning.
It was Rashid and Bresnan who once again were the architects of the White Rose’s resistance by putting on 41 for the seventh wicket before Bresnan fell to a sharp slip catch by Liam Livingstone. It was a nice moment for Livingstone who earlier had got despairingly close to a chance offered by Rashid.
Rashid has played a great innings here scoring 20 off 96 balls but Lancashire’s superb fielding also deserves a mention as they must have saved upwards of 20 runs with their various dives and slides.
Ninety minutes into day three of this Roses clash and this game continues to sway to and fro. Just like they did in the first innings, Bresnan and Rashid looked to be taking this game away from Lancashire.
They put on 41 for the seventh wicket after three wickets fell in the first hour and took the lead to 242 but then Bresnan edged Procter to Livingstone diving forward at slip who claimed the catch. Bresnan refused to budge but after a long discussion the umpires gave him out for 29.
The score is now 130-7 and Plunkett is the new man in.
Updated
So half an hour gone here at Headingley and anyone who thought this was going to be easy for Yorkshire needs to reassess. Lancashire have come flying out of the traps this morning taking three wickets to put this game very much in the balance. To add to the drama the floodlights are coming on and the wind is getting up.
Adam Lyth was the first to go for 48 to just the second ball of the morning after he was bowled round his legs by Neil Wagner after clipping the first ball for a boundary. Nightwatchman Seven Patterson’s resistance ended soon after when he edged a fine delivery from Tom Smith behind to stand in keeper Steven Croft. Worse followed for the White Rose when skipper Andrew Gale fended off a Wagner delivery to Haseeb Hameed at short leg for just seven.
So first innings heroes Adil Rashid and Tim Bresnan are now at the crease with Yorkshire’s lead 210 runs with four wickets in hand. If this pair can replicate their partnership from Sunday then the game is Yorkshire’s. If not we’re in for some very hard and entertaining cricket today...
Morning from Headingley where (wait for it) it’s overcast at the start of this third day. That will be a bonus for the Lancashire bowlers who need quick wickets if they are going to have even the remotest chance of chasing down a Yorkshire target which is already 189 with seven wickets remaining.
An extra layer of intrigue serves as a backdrop to today’s proceedings with the news circling that Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie may be leaving Leeds before too long. Read my colleague Ali Martin’s story here …
Updated
