Joe Root, pictured, cruised to 126 – but a rapid-fire century from a No. 9 batsman was the highlight of Yorkshire’s Second Eleven Championship match against Derbyshire that petered out into a draw on the third evening at Stamford Bridge.

Antonio Palladino, Derbyshire’s Essex cast-off with an Italian name, came in the fall of the seventh wicket in their first innings, still 70 behind Yorkshire’s first-innings total, to hit a whirlwind 136 off 85 balls with 16 fours and five sixes - Twenty20 batting in a Championship match, the likes of which had not been seen before from a No. 9.

That took Derbyshire to a 94-run lead after Yorkshire had batted first and scored 335 before declaring at the fall of the ninth wicket. A large percentage of the runs – 198 – came in a second-wicket partnership between Root and Alex Lees, which ended when Root was caught by Lineker…who also picked up Lees four shy of his century.

By the close of Day 2 Yorkshire had reduced the deficit to 20 without losing a wicket, and by lunch on Day 3 they had a lead of 80 with two men down. That Derbyshire were not having much success suggested that there was little to be gained by Yorkshire setting a target, so they batted on until they were all out on the fall of the ninth wicket - Azeem Rafiq having retired not out when he was called up to the first team’s Twenty20 Roses squad.

Top score in Yorkshire’s second innings came from Lee Hodgson, who missed the first through illness, his knock beginning at the fall of the third wicket and ending as the ninth man out with a season’s best of 86.

Derbyshire faced five overs in their second innings before handshakes at 5pm. Who knows? It might have been different if Derbyshire had declared behind or at least level on first innings to encourage Yorkshire to set up a fourth-innings run chase.

Next week it’s a trip back north for Yorkshire Seconds to face Durham in Trophy and Championship matches at the Feethams ground in Darlington. Let’s hope that the covers keep the weekend rain off and meaningful matches can be played.

Words and Statistics: MICHAEL SNOOK

Here's how to keep up with Scorer MICHAEL SNOOK on Second Eleven match days this season:

www.totalcricketscorer.co.uk

Select Live Scores
Select country as United Kingdom
Select region as Yorkshire and Club as Yorkshire

The lastest score should display! Clicking on scorecard should bring up the full scorecard.