A superlative innings by Adil Rashid, right - the 21-year-old all-rounder's second unbeaten century in successive innings - extended Yorkshire's first innings to 429.

 

A superlative innings by Adil Rashid, right - the 21-year-old all-rounder's second unbeaten century in successive innings - extended Yorkshire's first innings to 429.

They gained a lead of 153 over Lancashire on the last day of the LV Championship match at Headingley Carnegie, but any chance of a sensational Yorkshire win had to be discounted after two catches were dropped in the space of one over from Tim Bresnan before lunch.

Lancashire ambled to 196-2 before declaring to end the match in a draw - but at least Yorkshire had the consolation of picking up 11 points to Lancashire's eight, and with other Division 1 results going their way over the past few days they still have a chance of avoiding relegation if they perform well in the last four Championship matches of the season.

Yorkshire will, of course, be without star performer Rashid and Bresnan, who are expected to be with England for their one-day internationals once the Ashes series is done and dusted.

The sun was shining when Yorkshire set out on 386-7, with Rashid and Ajmal Shahzad’s eighth-wicket stand already worth 76, and Rashid was untroubled in moving from his overnight 138 to 150 off 232 balls, with a dozen fours. The partnership had reached exactly 100 when Shahzad, on 32, aimed a reverse sweep at Francois du Plessis, and was caught at point by Mal Loye.

With the intention being to score as quickly as possible, David Wainwright soon strode down the pitch to drive Gary Keedy, but he failed to make contact and was stumped by Luke Sutton. Matthew Hoggard and Rashid added 16 before Hoggard was caught by Paul Horton to bring Keedy his third wicket, and Rashid was given a standing ovation as he returned to the dressing room, his career-best 157 not out lasting for a marathon 393 minutes, and coming off 240 balls.

Steven Croft and Horton kept Hoggard and Tim Bresnan at bay for a while, although Croft may have gloved one when he tried to hook Bresnan, and Gerard Brophy put it down. Croft went on to hit boundaries on either side of the wicket off Bresnan - who gained revenge at 23 in the 12th over, as Croft tried another loose pull, and Brophy made no mistake.

Bresnan in his next over would have picked up a couple more wickets if chances had not gone begging - Horton’s fast edge to Joe Sayers at second slip going through his hands, and Loye being missed by the diving Jonny Bairstow at mid-wicket three balls later. Yorkshire would have been strongly placed to press for victory had these chances been held, but there was still time to make amends, and by lunch at 45-1 Rashid and Wainwright were bowling in harness.

Lancashire progressed to 65 before the next wicket fell: Rashid from the Kirkstall Lane End tempted Horton with generous flight - and Brophy caught him as he tried to drive. Horton's 28 included three fours. Rashid tossed one up to Loye, who clattered him over long-on for six. Bresnan returned at the Rugby Ground End, and the 100 came up with Loye 41 and Laxman 13. Laxman caressed Bresnan to the cover boundary with perfect timing.

Hoggard tried the Rugby Ground End, and Wainwright the other. Loye cruised to his 50 with five fours and a six - and then swept Wainwright for six into the vacant West Stand. Laxman swung Wainwright to the West Stand, but the ball dropped short of the line. He cuffed him to the East Stand, and Lancashire took tea at 150-2, Loye 64 and Laxman 39. They needed only three to be back on terms.

Loye hit Wainwright through mid-wocket for four after the interval, and Lancashire were in the lead. Laxman completed his 50 with a single off Rashid. It had taken him 53 balls, and included five fours. Laxman laid back to thrust Wainwright square for four, and Loye played an extravagant reverse-sweep at Rashid that found the West Stand boundary.

Sayers came on for his first bowl; Laxman drove Rashid through mid-wicket for four, and the last hour began with no hope of a decision. The match ended with Lancashire a safe 196-2, Loye not out 84, and Laxman 65.

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First blood: Tim Bresnan strikes to give Yorkshire hope of a sensational Roses victory, but it was not to be.

Today's Action Pictures From Headingley Carnegie: VAUGHN RIDLEY

DAY 3: Gerard Brophy with 99, and Adil Rashid - who is 136 not out, his fourth LV Championship century - saw Yorkshire soar ahead of Lancashire’s first innings 276 on Day 3 of the Roses match at Headingley Carnegie.

History was made when Brophy and Rashid, third picture, took their seventh-wicket stand past 120 - the record for Yorkshire in a Roses match set by Lord Hawke and Robert Moorhouse at Manchester in 1895. The stand had advanced to 168 when Brophy fell - a seventh-wicket Roses record for either side. Yorkshire enter the last day 110 runs to the good with three first-innings wickets still standing - but their challenge will be to bowl Lancashire out a second time and make good the time lost to rain.

There was yet another accolade for Rashid - who became the first player in Yorkshire's history to claim five wickets and score a century in two consecutive matches: the dynamic all-rounder captured five wickets in Lancashire first innings - and against Hampshire at Basingstoke last week he rapped out an unbeaten 117 and followed up with 5-41.

Brophy completed a well-deserved half-century during the morning to guide Yorkshire to their first batting point, and he and Rashid had added an unbroken 69 when the players took an early lunch because of bad light and rain. Yorkshire had moved to 213-6, reducing the deficit to 63. The rain became much heavier, but play was resumed at 2.30pm in bright sunshine.

Yorkshire began Day 3 on 131-5, with Brophy 13 and Tim Bresnan 46. Brophy immediately tore into Oliver Newby with three boundaries in his opening over as the bowler struggled to find length and line. Kyle Hogg was the more accurate, but Newby picked up the only wicket of the session when Bresnan left without adding to his overnight score.

Bresnan was tempted into hooking a short ball, but he succeeded only in skying a catch to Tom Lungley at deep square leg, left. Yorkshire were 144, the sixth-wicket pair having put on 72 to rescue their side from the depths of 72-5.

Brophy, in fine form, took consecutive boundaries off Hogg with cracking cover-drives before Lungley - Lancashire’s hero of yesterday - joined the attack.

Lungley had Rashid slashing hard to VVS Laxman at second slip, but the fielder could not hold on to the stinging chance and the ball raced away for four. 

Brophy slowed down for a while and he, too, enjoyed an escape on 41 when he deliberately steered Lungley over the top of the slips. Mark Chilton swooped on the ball at third-man, but put the chance down.

On the whole, however, the batsmen were doing an excellent job, and Brophy completed an uncharacteristically slow half-century in 187 minutes from 151 balls, with six fours.

There was a sigh of relief from the Yorkshire fans when the 200 was raised in the 72nd over to bring the first batting-bonus point, and there was just time before the early lunch for Brophy to drive Gary Keedy over mid-on for four. On the resumption, Brophy smashed Keedy straight for six.

Lancashire took the new ball at 228, and Brophy dabbed Newby for four through where third-slip might have been. Rashid played Hogg through mid-wicket for three to bring up the 100 partnership, and the 250 was passed when Brophy steered Newby to third-man for two. Rashid smacked Keedy one bounce to the long-off boundary to bring up his 50.

History was made when Brophy and Rashid, below, took their stand past 120 - the seventh-wicket record for Yorkshire in a Roses match set by Lord Hawke and Robert Moorhouse at Manchester in 1895.

More rain drove the players in to tea at 3.39pm. Play was resumed at 4.30pm, with 32 overs remaining in the day, and Rashid hit Keedy square for the single that brought up the 150 partnership, with Brophy on 96 and Adil 75. Brophy slashed Lungley to cover to make Yorkshire 300 and himself 97. Brophy hit a sharp return catch off a full-toss to Lungley, which was not accepted, and in Lungley's next over Rashid hooked him imperiously for four.

Brophy was on 99 and the stand was worth 168 - a seventh-wicket Roses Championship record for either side - when Brophy tried to cut Keedy for the single that would have meant his 100. The slash went straight into wicket-keeper Luke Sutton's gloves to end a vigil lasting 303 minutes, 241 balls, and including 11 fours and a six.

Twice Rashid thrust Lungley into the covers off the back foot for twos - the second of these completing his fourth Championship century and his second in successive innings, but his first at home. It had taken him 195 minutes, 154 balls, and included nine fours. He drove Keedy powerfully through the covers for four, but it was a gentle push to third-man off Hogg that took him to 118 - and a career-best to beat his triumph at Basingstoke in the last match.

Ajmal Shahzad put Hogg to the long-leg boundary to raise the 350. He hoisted Newby for six to the West Stand, and Rashid pushed the single that put Yorkshire 100 ahead. They ended Day 3 on 386-7, a lead of 110, with Rashid not out 136 and Shahzad 24.

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Today's Action Pictures From Headingley Carnegie: VAUGHN RIDLEY

DAY 2: Gerard Brophy and Tim Bresnan, right, staged a partial recovery after the first half of Yorkshire's batting had been blown away for 72 in reply to Lancashire's first innings score of 276 on Day 2 of the LV Roses match at Headingley Carnegie.

The sixth-wicket pair managed to avoid the possibility of the follow-on, and their unbroken stand of 59 steered Yorkshire to 131-5 by the close, when the more forceful Bresnan stood on 46 and Brophy 13.

The morning saw all but 3.2 overs lost to bad weather before Lancashire were guided to their final score by an unbeaten 111 from Mark Chilton, the bowling honours going to Adil Rashid, who finished with 5-97. Three wickets for Lancashire's recent recruit from Derbyshire, Tom Lungley, soon had Yorkshire in all sorts of trouble - and they need to accumulate many more runs on Day 3 if they are to get back on terms.

Lancashire were 226-7, with Chilton on 73, when the visitors resumed their innings 20 minutes late because of rain. Further wet weather meant that only 3.4 overs were possible before a lengthy interruption, play not continuing until after an early lunch. Another short stoppage soon followed before the weather cleared up - but it was not long before Bresnan sent down a sharply rising delivery to Lungley, who could only fend it into the hands of Jonny Bairstow at gully. Lancashire 241-8.

Rashid pitched too short to Chilton, who punished him with a pulled boundary to square-leg to move into the 90s, and Lancashire just managed to scrape a second batting bonus point before Oliver Newby was bowled by Rashid. Last man Gary Keedy had an important job to do trying to keep Chilton company until he reached his century - and it came with a single off Bresnan to trigger wild cheers from the players’ balcony. Chilton had faced 231 balls, and hit 10 fours.

The 10th-wicket pair frustrated Yorkshire for 24 runs before Keedy was caught at the second attempt by Joe Sayers at short-leg to give the slow bowler his second five-wicket haul in consecutive innings - he claimed 5-41 in the win over Hampshire at Basingstoke last week.  Yorkshire were in a good position - but they could not have made a worse start to their reply: they lost Jacques Rudolph to the very first ball from Kyle Hogg, which he hit to fellow South African Francois du Plessis at cover-point.

Skipper Anthony McGrath got moving in splendid style with 14 runs off Newby’s first over - including boundaries to square -eg, straight back past the bowler and through extra-cover with exquisite timing. Sayers got away with a couple of edges against Hogg, and Yorkshire were 21-1 after six overs.

McGrath was 17 when he fell to a stunning catch: Lungley was bowling his first ball from the Kirkstall Lane End when Anthony went to pull him, left.

He skied the ball to mid-wicket, and Steven Croft ran to position himself under it with his back to the wicket. The ball was coming over his left shoulder when he made a final dive before clutching it in both hands.

Andrew Gale cover-drove strongly for four, but at six he tried to play Lungley to leg, caught a leading edge, and Lungley nipped out of the way of the non-striker to collect it head high.

Yorkshire were 35-3 and stuttering as Bairstow joined Sayers. Hogg troubled Sayers, and he was 15 when he edged hard and low to wicket-keeper Luke Sutton's left, but he could not hold it.

Sayers slashed Lungley hard to gully - but the chance was too sharp for Mal Loye, who had to come off for treatment to his hand.

Bairstow drove Hogg handsomely through long-on to hearten the Yorkshire crowd, and he caressed Newby to the extra-cover boundary.

Next ball Newby took his revenge: a shorter one appeared to stop on Jonny as he shaped to play to leg...he tried to pull out, but the ball caught his top edge. All he could do was wait for Newby to canter down the pitch and pouch it.

Yorkshire 68-4. Bairstow out for 15, and Sayers still there with a not particularly secure 17. The skies darkened, and the players came off at 4.48pm. The high wind blew down a section of sightscreen at the Kirkstall Lane End, and the groundstaff wrestled to rectify it. The rain became heavier. The players returned at 5.04pm, and Brophy opened his account by cover-driving Newby to the ring.

At the other end Joe's luck ran out, when he was adjudged lbw to Lungley for 17, with two fours, after 108 minutes and 66 balls. 72-5. Bresnan steered a no-ball from Lungley through the slips for four. In Lungley's next over Bresnan stood up to bang a long-hop to the mid-wicket boundary. Bresnan became the senior partner: he was on 23 with four fours when he turned Hogg to leg for the single that brought up the 100, while Brophy hung on to score six in an hour.

Croft had his first bowl from the Rugby Ground End...sent down a short one outside the off-stump...and Bresnan cut him savagely for four to take Yorkshire to 127 - and save the follow-on. Next ball Bresnan repeated the treatment. Yorkshire came in on 131-5, Bresnan 46, including eight fours, and Brophy 13, with one boundary.

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Today's Action Pictures From Headingley Carnegie: VAUGHN RIDLEY

So outstanding is the sequence captured on Vaughn's camera of Steven Croft catching skipper Anthony McGrath that we are delighted to reproduce these pictures in full

DAY 1: Matthew Hoggard and Tim Bresnan claimed a wicket apiece inside the first three overs of the Roses match at Headingley Carnegie, but leg-spinner Adil Rashid emerged with the day's best figures of 3-76 off 26 overs.

Winning the toss, Lancashire were 2-2, and they continued to struggle against disciplined bowling. They were saved from complete collapse by Mark Chilton's unbeaten 73 which took them to 226-7 in 100 overs.

Conditions were ideal for fast bowling. Hoggard and Bresnan both obtained movement through the air and off the seam to send back openers Paul Horton and Steven Croft before either had time to settle. Croft was first to go: he edged Bresnan, and was splendidly caught low down by wicket-keeper Gerard Brophy, who dived far to his right to hold on to the sharp chance in front of first slip.

Hoggard immediately got into the act as Horton shaped to drive, and was well caught by Jonny Bairstow at backward-point, leaving Loye and Laxman to pick up the pieces for Lancashire. Loye was struck painfully on the right hand by Hoggard. He managed to shrug off the blow  - but he almost lost Laxman, when the India batsman played Bresnan just short of Rashid at third-slip, the ball flying to the boundary.

Both batsmen recorded centuries while putting on 225 together in the recently drawn Roses encounter at Old Trafford, and Yorkshire appreciated the importance of splitting the pair as soon as possible. Ajmal Shahzad came on at the football end to replace Bresnan, who had figures of 5-3-8-1, but Bresnan then took over from Hoggard (6-2-17-1).

Laxman went for his shots whenever possible, while Loye preferred not to take undue risks outside his off-stump, and Lancashire’s position gradually began to improve.

Yorkshire should have had a wicket at 48, when Loye edged Shahzad to second slip. Joe Sayers could not hold on to a chest-high chance just to his right, and the ball went to the boundary to bring up the 50 partnership for the third wicket.

It was not long before Yorkshire turned to their two spinners, Rashid, left, and David Wainwright. It was Rashid who made the breakthrough just before the interval, Loye top-edging a short ball to Bresnan at square-leg.

Mark Chilton had still to get off the mark at lunch, when Laxman had advanced to 38 off 82 balls with seven fours. Lancashire 66-3, with Yorkshire enjoying the best of the morning.

Laxman heaved a long-hop from Rashid to the square-leg boundary after the interval, and came to his 50 with eight fours.

Rashid kept it pretty tight from the Kirkstall Lane End - and at 92 Laxman fell when he tried to hit him over long-on: the ball sailed comfortably into the hands of Hoggard to end a stand of 27.

Chilton and du Plessis got stuck in to a partnership of 50, du Plessis sweeping left-hander Wainwright for six, but at 144 the sweep was du Plessis's undoing as he was lbw to the same bowler. His 32 also included five fours.

Tea came at 152-5, Chilton not out 39 and Luke Sutton 2.

It was Bresnan, being congratulated below, who struck next: Sutton hung out his bat, and Brophy caught a regulation touch. 159-6. Rashid succeeded him from the Rugby Ground End, but then it was Bresnan again.

Chilton came to his 50 in three hours, with five fours, and left-hander Hogg cracked Bresnan to the extra-cover boundary as his confidence grew.

Hogg should have gone when he was 19 and the total 186: he slashed hard at Hoggard, and Brophy put down the edge going to his left. Hogg signified his relief by belting Bresnan through extra-cover again.

Rashid came back, overpitched to leg, and Hogg stroked him through mid-on for the four that brought up the 200 and Lancashire's first batting point. Chilton eased Shahzad square for four, and the stand was worth 50.

Off-spinner Azeem Rafiq was fielding as substitute for Shahzad when he earned his corn: Hogg fastened on to a short one from Rashid, swung it hard and low to mid-wicket, and Rafiq held on to an excellent catch. Hogg's 29 included six fours. 213-7. Chilton finished the day with a flowing drive to the cover boundary to come to 73, with Tom Lungley not out 6.

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Overture and beginners: Yorkshire captain Anthony McGrath leads out his team, serenaded by the band of the Yorkshire Regiment, which also was celebrating the unveiling of a blue plaque at the Headingley house where Hedley Verity was born. Captain Verity, of the Green Howards, died of war wounds on July 31, 1943. 

Today's Action Pictures From Headingley Carnegie: VAUGHN RIDLEY

Roses matches are always keenly contested and Anthony McGrath's side will hope that the recent 4-day win against Hampshire can inspire Roses success. There are also many other reasons to look forward to Roses cricket at Headingley Carnegie...

On 19 August, Day 1 of the LV County Championship Roses match between Yorkshire and Lancashire , Yorkshire County Cricket Club will host the annual Yorkshire Regiment Day at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground.

Hedley Verity Blue Plaque unveiling

As part of the day's activities a Blue Plaque will be unveiled at 10am at 4 Welton Grove, Burley to commemorate where former Yorkshire great and infantryman Hedley Verity lived his early life. The plaque will be unveiled by Hedley Verity’s son, Douglas Verity.

Hedley Verity 1905 - 1943

The Yorkshire Regiment was formed in 2006 from its distinguished Yorkshire Infantry predecessors, The Prince of Wales Own Regiment of Yorkshire, The Green Howards and the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.  Hedley Verity, Herbert Sutcliffe and Norman Yardley are amongst those Yorkshire players who have served in the Regiment’s predecessors.

Members and supporters are welcome to attend the ceremony.

Stewart Regan , Yorkshire County Cricket Club Chief Executive, said: “Hedley Verity is a true legend of Yorkshire cricket and to have this season’s home Roses Championship match preceded by a Blue Plaque unveiling in his honour is particularly fitting. Verity represented Yorkshire with huge success but lost his life in a battle in Sicily in 1943 fighting for the Green Howards during the Second World War. The Blue Plaque in Burley not only remembers a great cricketer but also the sacrifices made by him and so many others.”

Yorkshire v Lancashire, LVCC, 19-22 August 2009

The two sides will be playing for the Duke of Leeds Cup as well as LV County Championship points and Roses bragging rights.

The Prince of Wales' Division Band will give a performance on the concourse in front of the Rugby Stand before the match and provide a Guard of Honour and fanfare to greet the arrival of the players on to the field.

Yorkshire Squad

Jacques RUDOLPH, Joe SAYERS, Anthony McGRATH (capt), Andrew GALE, Jonathan BAIRSTOW, Gerard BROPHY (wk), Tim BRESNAN, Adil RASHID, Ajmal SHAHZAD, Matthew HOGGARD, Deon KRUIS, David WAINWRIGHT.

Lancashire Squad

To be confirmed...

Tickets 

The match starts at 11am on each of the four days and tickets will be available on the gate priced at £15 adults and £10 concessions. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free.

It has been agreed that military personnel may have free admission via Gate ‘B’ on production at the gate of their ID Card (MOD 90).