Your online cricket correspondent is extremely proud of this Yorkshire side after an epic final session saw them come within a whisker of chasing down 344 runs in 55 overs. Both sides take 9 points and a great deal of credit for the way in which the match was played. Jacques Rudolph's 120 and Joe Sayers 84 unfortunately was not enough to see the Tykes home as they ended on 312-6 and shook hands with an over still to play.

(PHOTO: Joe Root leaves the field with 160 runs to his name - his highest first-class score)

MATCH INFORMATION

MATCH SCORECARD	CLICK HERE
DAY ONE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS	CLICK HERE
DAY TWO VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS	CLICK HERE
DAY THREE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS	CLICK HERE
DAY FOUR VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS	CLICK HERE

DAY FOUR REPORT

Your online cricket correspondent is extremely proud of this Yorkshire side after an epic final session saw them come within a whisker of chasing down 344 runs in 55 overs. Both sides take 9 points and a great deal of credit for the way in which the match was played. Jacques Rudolph's 120 and Joe Sayers 84 unfortunately was not enough to see the Tykes home as they ended on 312-6 and shook hands with an over still to play.

Yorkshire's quest for an improbable 344 started brightly with Rudolph penetrating an attacking field and Sayers providing valuable support, but it soon became apparent that Yorkshire were not able to keep pace with an initial asking rate of 6.74 runs per over.

At tea Yorkshire were 76-0 and needed a further 268 runs to win in 30 overs at 8.93 run an over. It was likely that the captains would be shaking hands at 5pm for a 9 point apiece draw.

Rudolph played through the covers in the second over after tea to bring up his fifty in 66 balls with his sixth four and Yorkshire immediate intent after tea was clear. 9 runs from a Wernars over were followed by 12 from Panesar including a six over mid-wicket from Rudolph. Sayers pulled Wernars for 6 just after Yorkshire went past the hundred and then pulled in front of square for 4 more, but it wasn't enough.

Rudolph reached his century in 108 balls which included 12 fours and 2 sixes. It is his sixth hundred in all cricket at Scarborough. He celebrated with two successive straight sixes off Luke Wells and in the next over despatched Chris Nash over long-off, but was then caught at deep mid-wicket by Murray Goodwin for 120 runs. Jonny Bairstow was promoted to number 3 - Yorkshire were going for it.

Bairstow was celebrating his ODI callup by England and walloped Nash for six over long on and then over mid-wicket. Sussex had bowled their overs quickly so the minimum of 51 available to the Tykes increased to 55, but then Bairstow found Parnell at long-off who stepped over the rope as he tossed up the ball and caught it as he reentered the playing area. Bairstow had made 26 in 13 balls.

Sayers reached his fifty in 112 balls including one six and 6 fours and was joined by Gary Ballance. Yorkshire needed 119 in 12 overs and it was game on. Sussex had eight men back in the fence, but the fours started flowing off Ballance's bat, but he was lbw to Parnell for 15 off 10 balls and Yorkshire were 236-3. Anthony McGrath joined Sayers with 103 runs required from the last 10 overs.

Panesar returned and Sayers swept him to Wernars at deep square but the fielder spilled the chance. McGrath played an incredible swat pull to smash Wernars over wide long-on and the chase was down to 89 required from 8 overs. Sayers wafted Panesar over mid-wicket for 6 and repeated the stroke two balls later. McGrath then deposited Parnell into Wells hands at long-on and he was gone for 17.

Pyrah joined Sayers and the Tykes required 66 from 36 balls. Sayers pulled Parnell for 6 over mid-wicket. Pyrah found Wells at long-on and was replaced by Joe Root with 44 needed from 23 balls. Sayers lofted over extra-cover and was caught by Goodwin off Khan for 84.

Adil Rashid and Root batted out before the draw was called with one over still to play.

Sussex had started Day 3 on 126-3 with a lead of 136 runs and when Murray Goodwin aimed a cut at a ball from Rashid that was too close to him and was caught behind by Jonny Bairstow for 35 one wondered whether the Tykes could apply some pressure.

Michael Yardy however, batting with nightwatchman James Anyon, had other ideas. The Sussex skipper extended a tremendous personal match when he reached his fifty from 57 balls including 7 fours to add to his first innings 130. James Anyon also found batting comfortable on a true surface as Yorkshire struggled for a further breakthrough.

The game seemed destined for a draw and as the sun swamped the North Marine Roard ground on the final day, Scarborough Cricket Club may not have served up the result Yorkshire supporters were craving, but it had put large ticks against every other conceivable box. The ground improvements, the gentle atmosphere and the warm hopitality is not found anywhere else in cricket. The Festval, in its 125th year, is a highlight amidst a cluttered and sometimes confused fixture list and although none of us will be around in 2136AD it is hoped our descendants are still enjoying cricket by the sea when the 250th celebrations come around.

While Yardy was stroking the ball around like he had throughout the game, Anyon belied his lower order status with solid defence and good use of the blade. As the lead mounted and the runs flowed on a pitch that seemed sound was there to be a twist. How much would Sussex be prepared to risk to win a game? Would they give Yorkshire a chance with a spirited declaration and risk a defeat that would see them drop into the relegation fight themselves?

The announcement that Jonny Bairstow had been called up for the England ODI squad to face Ireland received generous applause that was matched when news filtered through that Lancashire had beaten Yorkshire's relegation rivals Worcestershire. The latter cheers were surely through gritted teeth.

Yardy, on 92,  escaped a tough chance off Patterson when he cut to Sayers at point and by lunch he and Anyon had moved their 5th wicket partnership to 130 runs and the Sussex score to 280-4, a lead of 290 with a minimum of 61 overs still to be played.

Yardy went to his second match century from 105 balls with 10 fours and a six as he smeared the first of three fours off Ashraf after the break. Anyon then despatched Rashid through point to go to his career best 53 off 115 balls with 5 fours, but was promptly bowled two balls later by the same bowler and the 5th wicket stand of 153 was finally at an end. Yardy had reached 122 when he smashed Rashid down David Wainwright's throat at long-on, on as sub for Sidebottom, and Sussex were 338 runs ahead. They decalred at 333-6 and set Yorkshire 342 to win in 51 overs.

JAMES BUTTLER at SCARBOROUGH

DAY THREE REPORT

Sussex ended Day 3 on 126-3 after Yorkshire were bowled out for 388, 10 runs behind Sussex first innings 398. Sussex therefore lead by 136 runs with 7 second innings wickets remaining.

Sussex, starting their second innings 10 runs ahead, were 39-0 at tea on Day 3 and continued relatively untroubled post-break. Ed Joyce (42) looked in fine fettle in both innings but he wafted at a leg-side delivery from Sidebottom and was snaffled by Bairstow. His opening partner, Chris Nash, was lbw to Steve Patterson for 32 and Sussex had progressed to 87-2.

Patterson was causing problems, generating bounce and pace, while Rashid at the other end was getting turn and some self-belief. But Luke Wells and Murray Goodwin stood firm. Jacques Rudolph turned to Joe Root for a couple of overs towards the end to see if some of his batting majesty would rub off on the ball. It did, but at the other end for Rashid, who produced a sharp turned to catch Luke Wells' (20) bat and pad to be gratefully received by McGrath at leg-slp.

James Anyons (1) joined Goodwin (30) to see Sussex safely through the last couple of overs to end play on 126-3.

Yorkshire resumed on Day 3 at 251-4 with Joe Root on 111 not out and Gary Ballance unbeaten on 45 and the morning session was vital if the Tykes were going to exert their authority on the match. Ballance was dropped by keeper Brown from Panesar's third ball of the day much to the spinners chagrin, but in the next over a Root boundary and nudged single saw the pair reach their century partnership.

Sussex took the new ball after 80.3-overs with the score 272-4 and Wayne Parnell immediately offered up a wide. James Anyon took the new cherry from the Trafalgar Square End and Root's bat appeared to be growing broader as he drove to the cover fence. Ballance played the same stroke to Parnell and Yorkshire had more than survived the first half hour's play.

Ballance pulled for four to bring up the Yorkshire 300 and then drove straight to take himself into the sixties. This was his 7th Championship fifty of the season - was he to emulate Root the previous day and secure his own maiden first-class hundred. Root nudged a leg-side single and the partnership moved to 150.

Joe Root had gone to 160 and with the 290th ball he faced he flick pulled Anyons to Amjad Khan who scooped the ball up at fine leg. He released the ball so quickly as if it had burnt his hands that there must be doubt as to whether the fielder had the ball under his complete control but, despite the Scarborough faithful's protests, Root was on his way with 26 fours to his name.

Law 32 states that a legitimate catch 'shall end when a fielder obtains complete control both over the ball and over his own movement' and there seemed no way that Khan could have had control over either element of that scenario. Root and Ballance had added 190-runs for the 5th wicket and Yorkshire were 345-5 and 53 runs behind.

Ballance (87) and Adil Rashid (4) added a further 11 runs to take the score to 356-5 at lunch. Yorkshire were 42 runs behind, but Ballance will be upset at his dismissal to the first ball after the break. He pulled Anyon straight to Murray Goodwin at deep square to the first ball after the break in response to a trap obviously set for him and with his wicket Yorkshire's chance of further batting bonus points had gone. Yorkshire ended with 4 batting (6 total) and Sussex with exactly the same.

Rashid was then given not out when driving Panesar to Parnell at mid-off who took a low catch with his right hand after being in no position to do so. The umpires conferred and gave the batsmen not out, but two balls later it all became irrelevant when Rashid slashed Panesar to Wernars at point and was out for 12 and Yorkshire were 374-7.

Amjad Khan then saw off the Yorkshire tail as Pyrah edged Khan to Joyce for 8, Sidebottom (1) found Wernars and Ashraf (4) edged to Yardy at slip. Yorkshire had lost their last 6 wickets for 43 runs to be all out for 388, 10 runs adrift of Sussex.

JAMES BUTTLER at SCARBOROUGH

DAY TWO REPORT

Joe Root stroked his maiden first class century to end the day on 111 not out as Yorkshire enjoyed the better of Day 2 in Scarborough. Ryan Sidebottom had ended with a season's best 5-53 to restrict Sussex to 398 and at the close Yorkshire were 251-4, 147 runs behind with 6 wickets remaining.

Yorkshire's innings had started with a testing 5-over stint before lunch as they chased Sussex's 398 with Joe Sayers and Jacques Rudolph. The latter had made 1 when he edged fellow South African Wayne Parnell to Michael Yardy at second slip. Joe Root got off the mark with successive leg-side boundaries and added another for good measure to be 12 not out at lunch with Sayers 4.

Joe Sayers added 4 runs to his tally after lunch when Parnell struck again to trap the left-handed opener and Yorkshire were 29-2. Joe Root and Anthony McGrath started to score more freely but McGrath was lbw to Parnell for 29 when the score was 81-3. McGrath had hit 4 fours and had added impetus and 52 runs for the 3rd wicket,  but his dismissal brought Jonny Bairstow to the crease to join his fellow England Lion, Root.

Bairstow was off the mark to a Monty Panesar missfield and Root was progressing serenely. Root hit 10 fours in an 83-ball fifty and Bairstow, who started slowly, gradually started producing the strokes that have made his name over the last two seasons. The pair had added an unbroken 71 for the 4th wicket when the tea interval came at 152-3, Yorkshire 246 runs behind.

Bairstow (33) was caught brilliantly by Yardy from an Anyon delivery in the second over after the interval and Yorkshire were 156-4, but after that it was the Root and Ballance show. Both have been excellent in their first full senior season, both have shown signs they are here to stay and both showed today the maturity that has been the hallmark of their summer.

Root inparticular today has shown grit and elegance in equal measure. He cover drove James Anyon  for his 18th boundary to reach three figures for a maiden first-class ton and celebrated with another boundary next ball.

If Yorkshire can keep youngsters like Root and Ballance happy and healthy the future is bright. Ballance had to wait this season for his opportunity, but when it arrived he had never looked back and once again played a composed innings to keep Root company and end the day unbeaten on 45. Their 5th wicket partnership is currently worth an unbroken 95 runs.

Sussex had added only 4 runs to their overnight 335-6 when Michael Yardy edged Ryan Sidebottom to keeper Jonny Bairstow for 130. It was Sidebottom's 5th wicket and his first 5for in his second stint at the Club. Yorkshire had 13.5 overs to take 3 further wickets to claim a third bowling bonus point.

Rich Pyrah, who was unlucky not to take more than one wicket on Day 1, picked up 2 more in the space of 3 balls when he had Wayne Parnell caught by Sidebottom at long-leg for 8 and then Kirk Wernars played on for 28.

Umpire Trevor Jesty left the field halfway through the remainder of Sussex's innings when he felt unwell. He was replaced temporarily by Craig White and then by Frank Bernard, the Chairman of the local Umpire's Association, who performed square-leg duties at both ends. Jesty returned to the field during Yorkshire;s innings but was unwell again towards the end of the evening session.

Although the Tykes missed their final bowling point they will be pleased with their mornings efforts where Sussex added 63 runs for the loss of their remaining 5 wickets to be 398 all out. The last two to fall were both victims of lbw appeals by Adil Rashid who trapped both Amjad Khan (16) and Monty Panesar (9) which left James Anyon unbeaten on 11.

JAMES BUTTLER 

DAY ONE REPORT

Sussex have won the toss and elected to bat first only to see Ryan Sidebottom claim the wickets of Chris Nash (10) and Luke Wells in successive balls. Murray Goodwin safely defended the hat-trick ball, but Yorkshire were off to just the start they required. Nash had attempted to turn to leg to be struck in front and Wells edged to McGrath at second slip - McGrath taking a neat catch to his left.

Both Sidebottom and Ashraf were getting movement and one felt they needed Murray Goodwin early. Goodwin compiled 275 not out at Hove against the Tykes earlier in the season and has often been a thorn in the side of White Rose sides, but Sidebottom found his edge on 7 and the McGrath took a comfortable chance falling backwards at second slip. 

Patterson was beginning a decent stint when he replaced Ashraf and Sidebottom (7-4-7-3) was replaced by Rich Pyrah. Patterson found Yardy's edge but the chance just dropped short of Sayers at third slip when the score was 44-3.

Ed Joyce had been joined by his captain Michael Yardy and together they worked hard to repair the early damage. Some crisp strokes through an attacking field saw them add 50 together for the 4th wicket at a little over 3.7 an over. But with the stand worth 63 Joyce (45) edged Pyrah to Bairstow with 10 minutes to go before lunch.

Yardy continued after lunch with Ben Brown the pair settled into a comfortable period, their partnership worth 72 runs when Yardy reached his fifty in 146 balls which included 4 fours. Brown reached his fifty 18 runs later from 71 balls including 7 fours and the afternoon was becoming a struggle for Jacques Rudolph's team.

The hundred partnership came in the next over and had come in 2 balls short of 32 overs. Moments later the score was 202-4 and the early Sussex wobbles appeared to have been erased from memory.

At tea Sussex had recovered to 211-4 with Yardy 79 not out and Brown unbeaten on 52. Both players progressed to their hundreds in the evening session, Brown first off 124 balls with 17 fours and Yardy reached his from 242 balls with 8 fours.

The second new ball broke the 5th wicket stand at 198 runs, which had come in 53.5 overs when Brown edged the returning Sidebottom to Bairstow for 108 to make the score 289-5. Yardy survived a convincing caught behind shout from Pyrah when on 101 and edged Sidebottom through the vacanst 3rd slip an over later and the new cherry, as it had done at 11am, had Yorkshire believing once again.

Wernars edged Sidebottom short of Sayers at slip and Sussex moved to 323-5 and that was the last drama of the day.

Yardy ended 126 not out and Sidebottom with amazing figures of 20-9-30-4, but Sussex had regrouped and taken the honours on Day 1.

JAMES BUTTLER at SCARBOROUGH

MATCH PREVIEW

The 125th Scarborough Festival, sponsored again this year by Welcome to Yorkshire, commences with the LV= County Championship match between Yorkshire and Sussex and concludes on Sunday with a CB40 match between the same two sides. The Championship fixture is crucial in Yorkshire’s fight to avoid relegation from the top flight.

For many weeks we’ve all assumed that this season’s relegation battle was a straight fight between the Tykes and Worcestershire with Hampshire already doomed. But last week’s matches, where bottom side Hampshire beat Durham and 8th placed Worcestershire climbed 4 points above Yorkshire with a game in hand threw yet more cats among the pigeons.

Sussex’s defeat means they are still not safe and, if Yorkshire were to beat them at North Marine Road, they would be firmly in that battle to avoid the drop.

While the Tykes host Sussex, Worcestershire take a trip to Blackpool. Title chasing Lancashire could do Yorkshire a big favour by beating the Pears on another outground which has developed a habit of providing positive results for the Red Rose County.

Both Sussex and Worcestershire are starting to find runs and confidence, highlighted in their CB40 match on Sunday, albeit on a track made for batting, when Sussex scored a mammoth 399-4 to win by 80-runs. Ed Joyce and Joe Gatting both scored centuries in that match and Murray Goodwin, so often a thorn in Yorkshire’s side, is finding top form. He’s scored 1,037 Championship runs in 2011 at an average of 54.57 with a highest score of 257* recorded in the drawn match against Yorkshire at Hove.

Monty Panesar is Sussex’s leading wicket-taker with 54 scalps at 26.64 and paceman James Anyon has impressed with 42 wickets at 28.78. A traditional Scarborough track could bring both into the reckoning.

Scabrorough has a unique charm, is a wonderful place to watch cricket and often brings out the best of the Yorkshire team. If you get the chance come along and support the lads this week they will appreciate your backing and you can play your own part in the 125th Scarborough Festival. If you've not been to watch cricket in Scarborough you may find this thread on the White Rose Forum useful - enjoy!

JAMES BUTTLER

YORKSHIRE SQUAD

Jacques Rudolph (c), Anthony McGrath, Joe Sayers, Joe Root, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid, Richard Pyrah, Ryan Sidebottom, David Wainwright, Steve Patterson, Ajmal Shahzad and Moin Ashraf. 

Yorkshire are without their skipper Andrew Gale but welcome back Ajmal Shahzad. Jacques Rudolph will captain the side in Gale's absence.

THE CURRENT LV= COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE TABLE

TEAM	M	W	L	T	D	PTS
Durham	13	6	3	0	4	185
Lancashire	12	7	3	0	2	177
Somerset	12	6	4	0	2	171
Warwickshire	11	7	3	0	1	168
Nottinghamshire	12	4	4	0	4	134
Sussex	12	4	5	0	3	123
Worcestershire	11	3	8	0	0	102
Yorkshire	12	2	5	0	5	98
Hampshire	11	1	5	0	5	66

THE RELEGATION RUN-IN

Sussex	Worcestershire	Yorkshire	Hampshire
A: Yorkshire (8th)	A: Lancs (2nd)	H: Sussex (6th)	A: Warwicks (4th)
H: Durham (1st)	A: Hampshire (9th)	H: Warwicks (4th)	H: Worcs (7th)
A: Worcs (7th)	H: Lancs (2nd)	A: Warwicks (4th)	A: Somerset (3rd)
A: Notts (5th)	H: Sussex (6th)	H: Somerset (3rd)	A: Lancs (2nd)
	A: Durham (1st)		H: Warwicks (4th)