Lancashire ran out winners at the Aigburgh Ground, but Yorkshire can be extremely proud of their contribution to one of the great games of Championship and Roses cricket. Unfortunately it is another 'so nearly' to add to a few this season and it's Yorkshire's third defeat of the summer, but the spirit, guts and fight shown by the White Rose County with a much depleted side is of great credit to Moxon, Gale, et al.

(PHOTO: Steve Patterson took 4-51 in 24.5 overs to curb Lancashire's progress)

MATCH SCORECARD	CLICK HERE
JOE SAYERS INTERVIEW AFTER DAY 1	CLICK HERE
STEVE PATTERSON INTERVIEW AFTER DAY 2	CLICK HERE
JOE ROOT INTERVIEW DURING THE RAIN ON DAY 3	CLICK HERE
DAY ONE VIDEO LOWLIGHTS	CLICK HERE
DAY TWO VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS	CLICK HERE
DAY THREE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS	CLICK HERE
DAY FOUR VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS	CLICK HERE
LVCC DIV 1 POINTS TABLE	CLICK HERE

DAY FOUR REPORT

With one over to go in the match Rashid was hit for a big six by the impressive Maharoof to all but seal Yorkshire's fate. When the next ball penetrated the field in saving the one the Lancashire celebrations began and the Yorkshire side trudged off disconsolately.

After narrowly missing out on forcing victory over Hampshire last week, today's loss almost felt like a double loss. After being bowled out on Day 1 for a mere 141 the Tykes battled valiantly to restore the balance in a hard fought (sometimes too hard) game only to fall by the narrowest of margins.

Lancashire needed 121 runs in 15 overs at 8.06 runs per over after Yorkshire were finally all out for 308 in their second innings. Could Lancashire get there? Could Yorkshire do a Notts at Headingley? Anything, including the rain, was possible.

It was Twenty20, or Fifteen15, and yet Gale could place men on the fence and had no restrictions on bowlers who could bowl short or down leg without undue penalty. Paul Horton and Stephen Moore reached 16-0 after 3 overs. A fantastic piece of fielding by Adam Lyth where he caught the ball at long-on only to find himself diving over the rope and throw it back in play. Then a drop by OHD to Moore when on 9 permeated Lancashire's struggle to find the fence in the early overs.

Rashid replaced Patterson for the 6th over after Sidebottom had leaked 12 from his 3rd over. He took the wickets of Horton (18) and Moore (19) with his 4th and 5th ball and Lancashire needed 81 in 9 overs at 9.00 an over. Croft swept Rashid for 3 and then deposited him over mid-wicket for six to take Lancashire past fifty. Cross repeated the shot a couple of balls later and the game was Lancashire's for the taking. But then Cross was caught by Patterson at deep mid-wicket next ball and Lancs were 64-3.

Croft hit Sidebotom into the Pavilion, but Ryan hit back with dot balls. Patterson was tight from the River End. Croft was well caught by Ballance at Long-off from a Sidebottom delivery and Maharoof then despatched the next ball for four. Sidebottom bolwed a wide that Simon Guy couldn't grasp and there were 5 more to the total. Sidebottom then bowled dots. The pendulum swung again.

24 needed from 18 balls and Rashid bowled a tight over with just 6 taken from it. 18 off 12 balls then and Sidebottom bowled a good over before Maharoof unleashed a six into the press tent that wiped out the power supply and the job was almost complete.

At the start of Day 4 the Yorkshire grit and determination on display throughout Day 3 had to be evident again if the Yorkshire side were going to leave this Roses Match with their pride intact. It was a strange day psychologically for Gale's side who haven't got enough time left to contemplate victory so must bat until at least tea to secure a draw.

The weather forecast suggested rain from early afternoon, but poor weather can never be relied on. It never came.

Joe Sayers, resuming on 51, and Gale, on 47, both played doggedly yesterday, and they added a further 41 to their unbroken 3rd wicket partnership of 83 from Friday when play resumed at 131-2. The pair knocked the ball around nicely refusing to allow the Lancashire attack to settle into comfortable spells before Gale was caught by James Anderson off Gary Keedy for 60 and Yorkshire were still 25 adrift.

Sayers was then unlucky to sweep Keedy hard into Mark Chilton at short-leg only to see the ball bounce to Paul Horton at leg-slip. He went for a fine 75 from 232 balls to add to his first innings 53 and has twice in this game been out from legitimate shots hit firmly from the middle of the bat.

Sayers had stood firm and seemed to have set his stall out to bat until the world ends at 6pm. That would have been met with rapture-ous applause from the travelling Yorkshire supporters!!! He was troubled by a painful right foot on which he took a knock yesterday. He was forced to call for painkilling tablets twice in the morning session and was sent for a precautionary x-ray.

Anderson harboured a grudge from not getting a decision against Sayers yesterday afternoon and that disgruntled attitude was still evident on Saturday morning with plenty of verbals directed into both Sayers and Gale's ears. In my view the histrionics went too far. I'm all for fierce competition, but Anderson, at times, was very close to crossing the line and, I believe, was well over it when he celebrated catching Gale by run into the Yorkshire captain's face.

Yorkshire led by 8 runs with 6 second innings wickets remaining as they entered the afternoon session with Gary Ballance on 18 and Adil Rashid on 6. Rashid was particularly strong off his legs as he hit Procter and Anderson off his pads to the mid-wicket fence. It wasn't long before Keedy was brought back from the Pavilion End to bowl his 34th over of the innings. Ballance showed promise, punching his shots into the gaps and denying Lancashire any chances.

Maharoof took the ball from the River End with 51 overs remaining in the day and Rashid hit him sweetly back past him to the tennis courts for four. Ballance pulled Maharoof for 6 to bring up 1,000 first-class runs, but he'd never scored a Championship fifty. Rashid beat him to the half century mark in 89 balls which included 5 fours, but the Zimbabwean-born left-hander got there moments later with a swept single. It had taken him 122 balls and contained 1 four and a six.

Yorkshire were 90 ahead with just over 38 overs remaining in the day and the draw was creeping closer, however Rashid tried to hit Croft over the top and was stumped by Cross for 52 - Yorkshire effectively 90-5 and all of a sudden it looked a harder track to bat on. Simon Guy was caught at slip by Anderson to give keedy his third wicket and the nerves were jangling.

Yorkshire resumed at tea on 299-6. With Keedy's first ball, the seventh after tea, Gary Ballance padded up to a ball well outside off and it turned square to take his leg stump and dismiss him for a gutsy 57. Keedy then struck three balls later when he bowled Sidebottom for 8 and Yorkshire were in desperate trouble. Keedy made it 3 wickets in 7 balls when he had Moin Ashraf lbw for 0. Six wickets for Keedy was his best in Roses matches. Yorkshire had lost 5 wickets for 23 runs in 11 overs either side of tea and there were 28.5 overs left in the game.

Patterson and Oliver Hannon-Dalby were not adding runs for the 10th wicket but they were soaking up time and the small group of Yorkshire supporters cheered the completion of every over. How long could they last? How many could Lancashire chase and how long would they require? Light rain started but the play continued with five men around the bat to the bowling of Keedy and Croft. Anderson came back and had Patterson caught at gully by Croft but the pair had batted for 14.2 overs and eaten up a lot of Lancashire's time.

It is always disappointing to lose to our trans-Pennine rivals and believe me I have never seen the Yorkshire side looking as down. But this was a performance to be proud of after being rolled on a green top after losing the toss on Day 1. There was passion, pride and a lot of guts on show out there and no quarter given against a full strength Lancashire side.

If you doubt that you weren't there.

JAMES BUTTLER in LIVERPOOL

DAY THREE REPORT

The Tykes have shown true Yorkshire grit in Liverpool, refusing to lay down and die in this Roses clash. 'And so they should' I hear you cry, but it has been far from easy against a quality Lancashire attack on a wicket that has provided generous help to the bowlers. They still have it all to do to secure a draw after rain interrupted play for most of the afternoon at Aigburth.

The umpires inspected at 5.35pm and play resumed at 5.40pm with 15 overs to play. Yorkshire were 103 runs behind with 8 second innings wickets remaining and faced a testing mini-session on a damp pitch and a flurry of wickets was a distinct possibility. But Andrew Gale and Joe Sayers batted through unscathed to end 47 not out and 51 not out respectively.

Sayers has enjoyed an excellent match and his second fifty of the game came in 141 balls and included 3 fours. Gale was his usual determined self, hitting anything loose, but fighting for his side's life to the end. That resolute and dogged batting is required again tomorrow morning.

Gale hit the penultimate ball from Keedy to the long-off boundary shortly after the bizarre sight of a streaker, dressed in beige pants and wearing a box on his head, ran full pelt across the outfield to the amusement of the few spectators that had hung on to the bitter end. It has been a peculiar day to watch cricket at the Aigburth ground!

Before the rain, Adam Lyth was caught and bowled by the evergreen Glenn Chapple for 9 as Yorkshire lost their first wicket with the score 13. The ball seemed to stop on Lyth who trudged off knowing Yorkshire need a great start to this innings to salvage respectability. Glenn Chapple's first spell consisted of five consecutive maidens as he took 1-0.

With the score 11-1 James Anderson was convinced he'd had Sayers caught behind, but the Yorkshire opener was unmoved and the umpire's finger stayed firmly in his pocket - perhaps it had been frozen there. It was tough hard cricket and Anderson was keen to remind Sayers of his escape for the rest of the day's play.

Joe Root made a 46-ball 15 before one kept low off Maharoof and he was gone lbw. So it was all about crease occupation for Sayers (lunching on 28) and Andrew Gale (on 5) as the afternoon session got underway at 60-2. Yorkshire showed tremendous fight as they needed another 128 runs to make Lancashire bat again. The pair had progressed the score to 85-2 in the seven overs possible before the rain started at 1.55pm, with Yorkshire still 105 behind,

At the start of the day Yorkshire ended Lancashire's innings quickly. Steve Patterson sewed up the tail as the Red Rose county added only 2 to their overnight tally to end 329 all out. It took Yorkshire 11 balls to take the final 2 wickets as Patterson finished with impressive figures of 24.5 overs, 8 maidens, 4 wickets for 51 runs.

The tough work was just about to start for Yorkshire however as they started their second innings 188-runs adrift on first innings.

This has been Roses cricket at its best. It may not have included Napieresque hitting, but it's been a game fought in the trenches with no quarter given by either side. Yorkshire's fight on enemy territory has been excellent to see.

JAMES BUTTLER in LIVERPOOL

DAY TWO REPORT

Lancashire closed at 327-8, a lead of 186-runs on first innings, but it was a far more disciplined Yorkshire performance in Liverpool on Day 2 of this Roses encounter. The Tykes fought hard today, but to take anything more than a few bonus points from the game will take a heroic effort over the final two days.

Lancashire lunched at 130-2, just 11 runs behind Yorkshire's first innings total of 141. Steve Patterson struck to have Karl Brown lbw for 19, but Lancashire were moving ever closer to a substantial first innings lead in Liverpool.

Paul Horton, so often a red thorn in Yorkshire's side, had looked untrouble throughout his innings as he powered to his fifty from 99 balls which has included 7 neatly struck boundaries.

Patterson bowled 10 overs unchanged in the morning session including 3 maidens and took 1-14 as he got the ball in the right place and denied the batsmen scoring opportunities. Oliver Hannon-Dalby put in a good spell too (6-1-20-0) from the other end, but Yorkshire needed wickets and Andrew Gale turned to Adil Rashid, Moin Ashraf and Joe Root in a bid to find them. The worrying thing for Yorkshire was that they have enjoyed their best session, yet had slipped further behind in the match as Lancashire added 74 runs for the loss of one wicket.

Horton on 79 and Mark Chilton (27) resumed for the afternoon session. Lancashire went into the lead off the first ball of Ryan Sidebottom's over, the 55th of the innings. It had taken Yorkshire 21.4 overs more to get that far yesterday and a long afternoon session seemed in store for the Tykes, but then Adil Rashid had Paul Horton caught behind for 93 and the visiting White Rose faithful had a glimmer of hope. Simon Guy snaffled another first-class victim, Adil Rashid was bowling much better than he did yesterday evening and Yorkshire had their first bonus point of the game. Rashid bowled 23 overs on the bounce from the Pavilion End taking 1-66 to add to his 0-14 from 3 overs the previous evening. He bowled better than his figures suggest.

Mark Chilton reached his fifty from 124 balls which contained 4 fours and was playing straight and strong - a drive off Rashid shortly after reaching his half century was textbook and the bowler could only watch it fired past him. He was 69 not out at tea and Steven Croft was unbeaten on 33 and Lancashire led by 84 runs.

The new ball, due at 80 overs, was refused by Andrew Gale despite his side slipping further behind in the match by the minute. The press box was dumfounded, but then that's why we sit in a media tent on the edge of the pitch and Gale is at the helm. Chilton was caught by Lyth off the bowling of Moin Ashraf for 77 in the 88th over as he misjudged a guide down to third man. Joe Root then bowled Steven Croft off the inside edge. Next ball Gareth Cross played back to one he should have come forward to, Root was on a hat-trick and Lancashire were 244-6. No hat-trick, but 3 wickets for 4 runs and who needed a new ball? I was later told that the Yorkshire side felt they were bowling well with the old ball and were on top during that period. Often a new ball can disappear faster than the old one. Gale's deciison proved to be the right one.

Maharoof and Proctor began a counter attack against the spin of Rashid and Root so Gale reverted to Sidebottom from the River End and the new ball was taken ahead of the 102nd over. Steve Patterson returned from the Pavilion End. Sidebottom bowled Maharood for 34 and Lancashire were 299-7.

Glenn Chapple came to the crease on 6,999 first-class runs for Lancs and looked unduly nervous as he prodded and poked at the first ten deliveries faced before driving Sidebottom back over his head for four. He became only the 5th player in Lancashire's history to do the double of 7,000 runs and 700 wickets for the county. He may wear the wrong colour rose, but that is a remarkable achievement in anyone's book! He was then lbw to Sidebottom for 18 when he seemed to completely lose the flight of the ball, but by then Lancashire's lead had stretched to 180.

The Yorkshire players wore black armbands today as a mark of respect and in memory of Alex Lees' father, Simon. Simon Lees was well known to the Club and lost his battle with cancer last week. His funeral is today and our thoughts are with Alex and his family. Some things are more important than cricket.

JAMES BUTTLER in LIVERPOOL

DAY ONE REPORT

Lancashire completely dominated Day 1 of this Roses match as Yorkshire were skittled for 141 and Lancashire posted 56-1 by the close. Paul Horton (39) and Karl Brown (14) will resume for the Red Rose county tomorrow morning.

Play finally got underway at 12.45pm and Yorkshire had added 9 for the first wicket when Glenn Chapple trapped Adam Lyth lbw for 4. The opening attack of Chapple and James Anderson were making the ball sing on a damp seam friendly track. The first change was no easier as Joe Root, who hung around for 35 balls, fell leg before to Maharoof, also for 4.

Lancashire had won the toss and unsurprisingly asked Yorkshire to bat first, but morning rain had prevented play starting until 11.15am. That was then put back by further rain.

After early losses Yorkshire were comforted by Joe Sayers who was at his steadfast best in the morning in making 28 from 88 balls - a hugely valuable knock in the circumstances as Yorkshire lunched at 57-2 after Sayers and Andrew Gale had added 27 for the 3rd wicket with Gale lunching on 16.

There needed to be even more Yorkshire grit on show throughout the afternoon session if Yorkshire were to reach a decent first innings total and not expose a longer than usual tail prematurely. Sayers and Gale showed that resolve, but Sayers was the third man to fall for 53 when he played a firm square cut off James Anderson only to see Steven Croft take a blinding catch low down to his left. He had faced 148 balls and hit 3 boundaries and his partnership of 65 with Andrew Gale for the 3rd wicket had been crucial. However, Gale went 10 runs later for 31 when he was bowled around his legs by Gary Keedy when turning to leg.

An uneasy tea interval for Yorkshire after losing three quick wickets just before the break. Gary Ballance, fresh from a large volume of runs during the winter and for the 2nd XI in early season, pushed forward to Keedy and was caught off bat and pad by Mark Chilton for 6 was the last man of the trio to fall.

Yorkshire were getting trapped in defensive mode, unable to pounce in anything lose as the mindset was programmed to survive. Simon Guy could not make this Roses match a dream comeback. He had looked solid before tea but chopped on from Masharoof and trudged off with 8 to his name. Much then depended on Adil Rashid who had hit a couple of nicely timed boundaries, but when he advanced up the wicket to Keedy the bowler took a smart return catch. Yorkshire were 129-7 and the tail of Sidebottom, Patterson, Ashraf and Hannon-Dalby was there for the taking.

Patterson (1) played around a ball from Maharoof to become the Sri Lankans third victim and the difference in attitude from the two sides was there for all to see. Yorkshire, recently faioling to convert chances and forced to play a young side, while Lancashire, on fire at the moment, full of conffidence and getting used to winning matches. Yorkshire are missing six guaranteed 1st Team players on a pitch that assisted the bowler and where no one has looked truly at ease.

Ashraf was bowled by Maharoof and Hannon-Dalby was lbw Keedy for 0. Yorkshire all out for 141 having lost their last 8 wickets for 46 runs. The Tykes had it all to do with the ball to stay in the match on Day 1. Could Yorkshire's bowlers glean the same assistance from this wicket in the final 16 overs of the day that Maharoof (4-35) and Keedy (4-44) had done?

When Paul Horton stroked Ryan Sidebottom to the cover fence and followed that with a punched boundary through wide mid-on it appeared that Yorkshire's day was going to be topped off with Lancashire runs, but in Steve Patterson's next over he had Stephen Moore lbw for 1 and Lancashire were 9-1. Patterson was the pick of the evening bowlers, delivery a controlled line and gaining confidence rapidly after recent improved performances.

Adil Rashid came on from the opposite end from where Keedy had enjoyed his success and his sixth ball was driven through OHD's despairing dive for 4 by Horton. The leg-spinner was dropping too short and Horton capitalised again in his next over despatching him for two further off-side boundaries. Moin Ashraf had disappeared for 10 from his first over was driven for a leg-side boundary by Karl Brown and Lancashire appeared to be finding batting far moe comfortable. Ashraf was replaced by Oliver Hannon-Dalby who bowled a decent first over. Joe Root tried his hand but Yorkshire could not grab a second wicket.

It's been a very poor day for Yorkshire cricket. Let's come back stronger tomorrow, but for now, someone please tell me where the nearest bar is!

JAMES BUTTLER in LIVERPOOL

Bresnan definitely misses the Roses game. Gerard Brophy failed a late fitness test ahead of today's play and Simon Guy, in the absence of Jonny Bairstow (England Lions), comes out of retirement to take the gloves.

Interesting fact number 1 of the week - the average age of the Lancashire XI is 29.63 years old. The average age of the Yorkshire XI is 24.81 years old. The Lancashire side is a combined 53 years older than their White Rose rivals.

Interesting stat number 2: Ryan Sidebottom is only 4 wickets away from 500 first-class wickets in his career.

Interesting stat number 3: Yorkshire's 10-year record against Lancashire: Played 16 Won 3 Lost 1 Drawn 12. 

You can keep right up-to-date with all of the action from Liverpool right here on the YCCC website or through the @Yorkshire_ccc twitter feed - through all 4 days...

JAMES BUTTLER in LIVERPOOL

YORKSHIRE SQUAD

Andrew GALE (c), Adam LYTH, Joe SAYERS, Joe ROOT, Gary BALLANCE, Gerard BROPHY (wk), Adil RASHID, David WAINWRIGHT, Ryan SIDEBOTTOM, Steve PATTERSON, Oliver HANNON-DALBY, Moin ASHRAF and Simon GUY.

LANCASHIRE SQUAD

Horton, Moore, Brown, Chilton, Croft, Maharoof, Cross (wk), Chapple (c), Mahmood, Anderson and Keedy.

MATCH PREVIEW

The Roses clashes each season are eagerly anticipated and always a highlight of the summer, but victory for Andrew Gale’s men in the LV= County Championship match commencing on Wednesday would be a major boost for many reasons.

Yorkshire pride in Jonny Bairstow and Ajmal Shahzad being called into the England Lions squad to face the touring Sri Lankans at Derby in a 4-day match has been tempered by the injuries sustained by Brophy (bruised and swollen thumb) and Bresnan (torn right calf) on the final day of the drawn match against Hampshire.

Tim Bresnan has suffered a reoccurrence of an injury he first sustained earlier in the year during the ODI series against Australia. He is likely to miss the three match npower Test Series against Sri Lanka beginning in Cardiff on Thursday 26 May. A rehabilitation and recovery programme will be established in the coming days following further medical assessment.

With Bairstow on England duty and Brophy a doubt, Yorkshire have had to consider other wicket-keeping options and former player Simon Guy looks set for a surprise recall if Brophy is unfit to wear the gloves.

Brophy’s thumb injury has been regularly reviewed ahead of the Roses game and, with Yorkshire’s age-group keepers doing school examinations this week, Guy looks set to travel with the team. Being catapulted back into the limelight might adversely affect some people, but the 32-year-old who was released by the Club at the end of the 2009 season has the temperament to take it all in his stride. In fact Simon will revel in the opportunity despite his last first-class appearance being as long ago as July 2007.

Skipper Andrew Gale said: “We’re going to take Simon Guy over. Barney Gibson and Ed Wilson have done ok, but only played a handful of second-team games between them and are only 15 or 16 years old. To throw them into a Roses match would be a bit harsh on them and I think they have both exams this week as well.”

The Tykes are without Jonny Bairstow and Ajmal Shahzad (England Lions), Tim Bresnan (calf), Richard Pyrah (knee) and Anthony McGrath (back). Regardless of Brophy's fitness it will be a remarkably young side that takes the field to play the Division One form team.

Good news though on Anthony McGrath who plays for the 2nd XI this week and if he comes through that match unscathed should be back in 1st Team action soon.

One youngster who has been forced to bide his time in the 2nd Team despite a prolific winter in Zimbabwe and runs early in the English season is Gary Ballance. He will start against the Red Rose after hitting 47 in Sunday’s CB40 defeat to Kent Spitfires. Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Moin Ashraf will cover for Bresnan and Shahzad.

For the Tykes the season has been one of so near but yet so far. They need to recapture that winning feeling soon and with the current injuries and a number of near misses over the last few weeks this would be a wonderful week to win on enemy soil and deny Lancashire top spot come Saturday evening.

THE OPPOSITION

I have to confess that the Red Rose county have surprised me this summer - I had them tipped for relegation. They are unbeaten in their opening four LV=CC matches and after wins against Sussex, Somerset and Warwickshire they sit in second spot, two points behind Division One leaders Nottinghamshire, who have played one match more.

The wins against Sussex and Somerset were both at the Aigburth ground in Liverpool which is a result pitch and has a reputation for assisting seam bowlers. Lancashire have Jimmy Anderson available, but have built their success so far this season by playing as a team.

Glenn Chapple is Lancashire captain and the 37-year-old Skipton-born all-rounder is their highest player at 23rd in the PCA’s MVP Championship rankings. A consistent performer with bat and ball and invariably a thorn in Yorkshire’s side he is the man to watch this week.

Interestingly Lancashire’s next best MVP performer this summer has been35-year-old, Gary Keedy. Keedy was born in Wakefield. The slow-left-armer has second innings figures of 4.2-3-2-3 in the win over Warwickshire. Can you see a theme developing there?

JAMES BUTTLER