Yorkshire have played 563 matches in the Second Eleven Championship - Leicestershire 170 more - and for both counties there has been a zero in the results column marked “Ties”. Until, that is, the nineteenth day of August, 2011.

At four minutes past six Alex Wyatt, bowling the 14th over in the last hour of the match, trapped paceman Oliver Hannon-Dalby leg-before - the 10th wicket of Yorkshire's second innings, both sides having scored the same total of runs. A tie, a classical tie...

Leicestershire batted throughout Day 1, losing nine wickets in scoring 377 - wicket-keeper Ed Eckersley continuing from his unbeaten 94 in the Trophy match between the same sides the day before with an unbeaten 133. How do you get him out?...a question that remained unanswered by the Yorkshire bowlers, the best of whom was left-hand spinner Gurman Randhawa with three wickets at a costly 32 runs each.

Rain and evening gloaming took 44 overs out of Day 2, Yorkshire managing a sleepy 2.5 runs an over off the 60 that could be bowled - Leicestershire managed 3.5 the previous day - and of the 148 runs scored Adam Lyth’s 54 was, perhaps, the highlight.

Yorkshire declared overnight 229 behind, challenging Leicestershire to extend their lead and set up a run chase: the Foxcubs did so, scoring seven an over to take their lead to 301 and leaving Yorkshire to bat the minimum of 84 overs remaining in the day.

At lunch the board showed 56 runs, Lyth on 34 but Alex Lees having lost his wicket early doors. Only one wicket - Gerhardus Rudolph's - was taken as 96 runs were added during the afternoon and Lyth advanced to 93 not out.

Play resumed after tea with 33 overs remained to be bowled - the best part of five an over needed to breast the winning line. Lyth went on to his century with a four, but was caught behind next ball. The rate required was nearly six an over when the last hour was signalled but, much to everyone’s surprise, the runs began to flow.

Gerard Brophy contributed a run a ball - as did Alex Lilley, Randhawa and Iain Wardlaw. Suddenly, only five runs were needed off the last four overs. Brophy went for the big hit to finish it...but the ball landed in deep-long-off’s hands. Next ball James Wainman scored a single...Wardlaw was bowled two balls later. Last man Hannon-Dalby and the wicket-keeper missed his first ball - which went for three byes.

The scores were level.Hannon-Dalby faced three balls from Wyatt without trouble, waiting for the bad one to hit. The fourth administered the coup-de-grace, and history was made.

Next week Yorkshire visit Worcester for the ninth and last round of Trophy and Championship matches in 2011...and still they are without a Championship win this season.

Words and Statistics: MICHAEL SNOOK