Paceman James Lee, above, battered 75 with six fours and five sixes as Yorkshire chased mission impossible - 272 to win in 24 overs - in their Second Eleven Championship match against Worcestershire at Todmorden.

Worcestershire surprisingly made no second-innings declaration. Yorkshire nonetheless took up the challenge of an ungenerous target, but after fireworks from Lee and Callum Geldart they had to settle for a draw.

Day 1: Left-hand spinner Gurman Randhawa eased the pressure on Yorkshire after a hard day of leather-hunting. Licking their wounds after their nine-wicket defeat by Yorkshire the previous day at Bingley, the visitors reached the attractive ground at Todmorden for the second engagement of their Yorkshire tour - the three-day Championship match.

With the previous day in mind and damp conditions prevailing, it was no surprise that Worcestershire were put in again when their captain lost the toss after the start had been delayed for three quarters of an hour. A couple of dozen runs were scored and no wicket lost in the 40 minutes before more rain forced the players from the field. The interruption lasted for an hour and a quarter, with five overs lost.

The first wicket was captured with 45 on the board - surely the beginning of the predicted collapse? - but 168 runs were added before the second wicket was taken and 138 before the third, both partnerships becoming Championship records for Worcestershire against Yorkshire. Some collapse!

Opener Matthew Pardoe fell two short of a century that was there for the taking - he was trapped leg-before by Randhawa - but captain Neil Pinner sailed past that mark and consigned the highest individual score record to the bin, passing a century and a half before falling in the fifth over bowled by Gary Ballance - the seventh bowler tried.

The capture of Pinner’s wicket, the third, at 351 opened the window for the bowlers and Randhawa in particular: he switched ends after delivering 23 overs from the school end and took two more wickets in a spell of 32 dot balls...4-123 sounds so much better than 1-123!

The day ended with Worcestershire on 374 with four wickets in hand. With three batting records under their belt and a fourth beckoning they will remember Todmorden. The bowlers will be keen to emulate their teammates.

Day 2: Alex Lilley compiled his maiden Second Eleven Championship half-century as Yorkshire ended the day still 39 runs from saving the follow-on.

A late start...that means less playing time...and less playng time means a re-evaluation of the game plan. Worcestershire declared at their overnight total, so there was no fourth batting record, but the damp conditions gave their bowlers the upper hand.

There was a rain break of a quarter of an hour after three overs. Only 10 runs came in the first 13 overs - but three Yorkshire wickets fell to Chris Russell: Ballance was caught and bowled, and both Geldart and Billy Root were caught behind by Oliver Steele.

Jack Hargreaves, replacing Lee Hodgson who had been called to First Eleven duties, joined Alex Lees - the partnership more than quadrupling the score before Lees became Steele’s third catch victim with 44 runs on the board.

Rain during the 30th over halted play yet again. Hargreaves was bowled to leave the scoreboard still looking sorry for itself at 61-5 in the 35th over, but Lee added a little spark - and the score was doubled before he was caught for 27.

Alex Lilley, who had gone in at the fall of the fourth wicket, had quietly accumulated 33 runs and now progressed to his maiden 50 in his second Championship innings to end the day on 69, and Randhawa added a couple of dozen. The late start meant a late finish, 7.35pm, when Yorkshire were 186-6, infinitely better than had looked likely four hours earlier.

Another 40 runs avoids the follow-on. It was the Worcestershire bowlers’ day, emulating their batsmen the day before.

Day 3: Grey clouds threatened to discharge their contents, but play began on time with Lilley and Randhawa intent on avoiding the follow-on. This they did, surviving the early onslaught and facing up to the new ball. They batted through 21 more overs - adding 63 runs to the partnership - but Randhawa was caught three balls after notching his first Championship 50.

Lilley was three short of a maiden and well-deserved century when his partner was out but, sadly, he went four dot balls later, caught behind. Yorkshire's declaration came immediately.

Worcestershire were expected to look for quick runs to add to their lead of 125, but they bided their time in the nine overs to lunch, scoring a little more freely afterwards. Wickets fell regularly, and thoughts of a target to set seemed far from the visitors’ minds.

The lead had increased to 262 by tea with eight wickets lost. With 31 overs remaining a declaration should surely come? No, the innings continued until it was ended by the loss of the last two wickets with nine runs added, and Yorkshire were left to make 272 to win in a mere 24 overs: they needed a Twenty20 innings and more...but they gave it a go!

Ballance was bowled, first ball of the fifth over, with the score at 24. Cometh the hour, cometh the man: Lee at No. 3 made a great attempt to assume that mantle as the ball was despatched to all parts of the ground. Geldart caught the bug - and in 10 overs they added 110, each of them hitting three sixes, two of which threatened the traffic on Burnley Road.

Geldart hit 50 off 40 balls before he was caught behind at 134, and Lees joined Lee: they added 21 in two overs, but Lee’s end came when he skied a return catch to Chris Russell after smiting 75 off 43 balls with six fours and five sixes. The rate required had risen well beyond the reach of the young Yorkshiremen, and when the 20th over contained six balls dotted defensively handshakes signalled the end of the proceedings.

There was much to be learnt from the match. Will the lessons be put into practice next week when the Seconds begin the last full month of the season with Trophy and Championship matches against the old enemy, Lancashire, at Northern Cricket Club’s ground in Crosby?

Words and Statistics: MICHAEL SNOOK