Warwickshire won by an innings and 58 runs...

MATCH INFORMATION

DAY FOUR REPORT

I wrote last week at the end of the Scarborough Festival that I was immensely proud of the Yorkshire teams efforts in that Championship fixture. Today, in a performance that Martyn Moxon later described as 'spineless' I cannot repeat the same statement. The fight I have heralded all summer was not evident this afternoon.

Yorkshire capitulated on Day 3 against Warwickshire to lose by an innings and 58 runs, a defeat that leaves their chances of avoiding relegation looking very fragile. Yorkshire were bowled out within 38 overs and were unable to score the 185 runs required to make the Bears bat again.

Yorkshire lost the key wicket of Jacques Rudolph to the fourth ball of their second innings when he poked a limp drive at Keith Barker and was well caught by Tim Ambrose diving to his left. It would be a travesty if that is Rudolph's last ever shot in a Yorkshire shirt. If Yorkshire are effectively relegated after the Edgbaston then Rudolph will not return from South Africa to play the last game of the summer against Somerset and who knows what the future holds?

Joe Root had creamed Barker through the covers on his way to 7, but attempted to repeat the stroke, didn't get over the ball and slashed to Ian Westwood at gully. Anthony McGrath hung his bat out to Chris Wright and was caught behind for a 16-ball duck and Gary Ballance was stuck in front to Wright also with no runs to his name. Yorkshire were 25-5, still 160 runs from making the Bears bat again, and it was down to Joe Sayers (24) and Gerard Brophy (9) to see the Tykes through to tea at 40-4.

Immediately post tea the two not out men were gone. Brophy was bowled by Wright for 14 and Sayers lbw to Barker for 25 and at 47-6 Yorkshire were sinking fast. Could Pyrah repeat his Roses heroics and could Adil Rashid build on recent form? Pyrah certainly knew it was possible and raced to 22 with 5 fours, four of which came right out of the middle of the blade and the other a top edge over the slips from a pull.

A Pyrah pull through mid-wicket and a Rashid cut brought Yorkshire within one hundred of making Warwickshire bat again, but Pyrah aimed a drive through the leg-side off Barker only to send a leading edge to Jim Troughton at mid-off and he was on his way for 26 from 17 balls.

At moments like this you tend to clutch at straws and David Wainwright joining Rashid reminded me of Hove 2008 when they combined to save the game from a forlorn position. Not to be - Rashid was bowled Wright for 9 and the scoreboard read 87-8. Sidebottom was caught at first slip by Varun Chopra off Wright for the fourth duck of the innings.

Although Wainwright (23 not out) and Patterson 11 rallied towards the end, the latter was bowled by Wright (5-31) and Warwickshire had sealed a victory which moves them 3 points behind Lancashire at the top of the table.

Earlier Yorkshire had continued their hunt for the last four Warwickshire wickets and their season was summed up when Chanderpaul, on 189, steered Pyrah off his legs to fine-leg, top-edged the ball high into the air only for it to drop midway between Gerard Brophy and Ryan Sidebottom. The bowler Pyrah sunk to his knees and looked at the sky.

At the cut off time for bonus points Warwickshire were 368-6 which means the Tykes take 4 bonus points and the Bears 7 from this match. That was to be all Yorkshire would glean from the game.

Warwickshire had added only 28 runs in the first hour of play and Keith Barker had contributed only 3 of those, but he stroked Steve Patterson through cover and cracked a pull ijn front of square to move within a blow of his own fifty. Warwickshire, who had been setting their stall out to only bat once in the match, were now seeking some acceleration.

Chanderpaul had batted for 7 hours and 14 minutes when he edged Patterson behind for 193 to make the score 383-7. It had been a masterful innings taking the score on from 5-2 to secure a lead of 86 runs and he received a deserved ovation from the Yorkshire crowd.

Barker drove Rashid through wide mid-on for his 6th four to go to his half century from 114 balls and in the final hour of the morning Warwickshire added 85 runs with Barker not out on 79 and the dangerous Neil Carter on 37.

Barker added only 6 runs to his interval tally before smashing Joe Root to Adil Rashid at cover. Carter then gave Root the charge and was stumped by Brophy for 40 as the Bears made a bit of a hash of chasing rapid runs. The final man out was Chris Metters who was caught by Richard Pyrah at deep mid-wicket having made 9 to allow Joe Root to finish with figures of 3-33.

JAMES BUTTLER at HEADINGLEY

DAY TWO REPORT

Warwickshire have gone 43 runs past Yorkshire's first innings total and are threatening to build a commanding first innings lead at Headingley thanks to a masterclass from West Indian left-hander, Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Yorkshire captain, Jacques Rudolph said later: "Shivnarine made it look very easy out there. We need to come back strong tomorrow and bat with a positive mindset like we did last week in Scarborough."

Steve Patterson and Ryan Sidebottom made good use of the new ball, and were the pick of the Yorkshire seamers today, as they tested the Warwickshire top order as the second day's play got underway.

Patterson rocked back Varun Chopra's off-stump with the fifth ball of his second over and Warwickshire's most successful batsman of this season was gone for 1. A full ball from Sidebottom, the last of his third over, saw a stationary Westwood lbw for 3 and Warwickshire were 5-2.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Laurie Evans then bedded in. Chanderpaul played his trademark crab-lie nudge, poke and leave innings while Evans looked assured. He stands tall and plays straight with balance and one drive through mid-wicket was top class. But David Wainwright was introduced from the Kirkstall Lane End and with his fourth ball got one to bite and leave Evans who edged to Brophy for 30.

Chanderpaul has struggled of late but started to blossom, his 5 fours before lunch permeating obdurate defence. Jim Troughtom deposited Wainwright for 6 over wide long-on just before the break when Warwickshire were 80-3 in reply to Yorkshire's 297 all out yesterday.

The Bears seemed to have been done the hard work when the 4th wicket partnership had reached 68, but Troughton aimed a wild cut to Richard Pyrah and edged behind to Brophy. At 115-4 Yorkshire might well have thought their noses were in front, but Chanderpaul and former England keeper, Tim Ambrose, had other ideas.

6 fours in a row by Ambrose brought up the fifty stand - 4 fours off Pyrah followed by two of Rashid long-hops as Warwickshire started to stamp their authority on the match. Chanderpaul had reached fifty from 89 balls and his 7 fours had been clinical. A bit like Trescothick, he plays down the line only to withdraw the bat at the last minute or guide the balls between the field.

Pyrah followed an over that cost 17 with a maiden as Yorkshire strived for the breakthrough. Rashid at the over end though was struggling. Very much a confidence bowler he's lost his loop and dip and replaced it with faster deliveries that are often too short and eminently hittable.

Ambrose was batting as well as anyone in the match and when he tucked Rashid for 2 he brought up his fifty in 57 balls with 9 fours. The 5th wicket stand had risen to 93 when tea came with the score at 208-4 with Warwickshire 89 runs behind. A further 18 runs had been added when the former England keeper edged Wainwright to Rudolph at slip for 66 to make the score 226-5. Ambrose's reaction was of a man that did not believe ball had made contact with bat.

Chanderpaul pulled the next delivery from Pyrah to reach his 57th first-class hundred of his career, his 9th in the Championship, in 156 balls including 15 fours. The next ball disappeared the same way and the West Indian left-hander was passing a rather unwise short ball test with flying colours.

Wainwright's next over started with Maddy edging his first ball to Rudolph at first slip, but the chance was spilt. It did not cost the Tykes too much when Maddy, on 12, played forward to Wainwright, to give him his third wicket as he was judged lbw.

Keith Barker is one of the most impressive young all-rounders on the county circuit and his partnership with Chanderpaul threatened to take the game away from the Tykes and seal their fate.

A county fighting to stave off relegation does not need a Test player of Chanderpaul's quality uniting with Barker to milk runs under evening sunshine. Chanderpaul has almost ten thousand Test Match runs to his name at nearly 50 apiece and his quality, at 37-years-old, would entertain hugely if it wasn't banging the nail into Yorkshire's coffin.

The second new ball came and went as Chanderpaul's 150 arrived in 216 balls with his 22nd four and as a player with renouned concentration one wonders when his vigil will end. Chanderpaul's partnership with Barker resumes at an unbroken 76 runs on Thursday morning with Chanderpaul unbeaten on 167.

JAMES BUTTLER at HEADINGLEY

DAY ONE REPORT

Yorkshire made 297 all out on Day 1 and missed a third batting bonus point by 3 runs at Headingley as Warwickshire chipped away at the wickets, led by Keith Barker who finished with 4-73. Gary Ballance top scored with 57.

Yorkshire won the toss and batted first after making two changes to the side that drew with Sussex at Scarborough - David Wainwright replaced Moin Ashraf and Gerard Brophy came in for England's new recruit, Jonny Bairstow.

Jacques Rudolph and Joe Sayers reached 40 without mishap before Keith Barker angled one into Rudolph's pads had trapped him lbw for 24. Sayers had been more cautious and it wasn't until the hour mark he cut his first boundary off Neil Carter. Joe Root, visibly growing in confidence this summer, struck Carter behind square and pulled in front on the legside to get his knock underway.

Barker had been the pick of the bowlers early on and Troughton turned to him again prior to lunch to find another breakthrough. He dropped short and Sayers pulled him in front of square. A pushed Sayers single brought up the fifty partnership in the penultimate over before lunch when the Tykes had progressed to 95-1 with Sayers 31 not out and Root unbeaten on 26.

The 2nd wicket partnership was worth 80 when Chris Wright bowled a full pitched delivery which Root played around and was trapped in front for 29. Five balls later Sayers inside edged Barker onto his stumps for 47 and Yorkshire were 120-3. Anthony McGrath played away from his body and edged Wright to Chopra at first slip for 8 and Yorkshire had lost 3 wickets for 14 runs.

Gerard Brophy edged through the slips to get off the mark and then guided the next Wright delivery to the fine leg boundary as Yorkshire set about reparing the damage. Gary Ballance struck consecutive off-side boundaries in Wright's next over as the run-rate edged above 3 an over. The pair seemed to be comfortable when Brophy pushed forward at Barker and edged to Metters at second slip for 19. They had added 57 runs for the 5th wicket.

At tea Yorkshire had progressed to 195-5 with Ballance 45 not out and Adil Rashid on 2. During the tea interval the Supporters' Association presented Ray Illingworth with a framed scorecard of his debut for Yorkshire which was 60 years ago this week.

Rashid played the shot of the day when he effortlessly straight drove Darren Maddy towards the Rugby Stand. Ballance reached his 10th first-class fifty of the summer, his 8th in Championship cricket, as Yorkshire moved to 216-5. His knock took 95 balls and included 7 fours, but he was yet to convert to a century and would not do today.

When on 57 he tamely bat patted Metters to Westwood at short-leg and the Tykes were 242-7. David Wainwright was dropped second ball when he chipped to point and a diving Wright spilled the chance - could he make the Bears pay?

Richard Pyrah played a couple of assured cover drives before being bowled by Barker for 18 and that brought Ryan Sidebottom in to join Wainwright. The 9th wicket was worth 32 runs in 8.3 overs when Sidebottom edged behind to Ambrose to give Carter his first wicket of the day and Yorkshire were 292-9, needing 8 more runs for what could be a crucial third batting point.

It is hard to measure the merits of Yorkshire's efforts today. Although everyone in the lineup, bar McGrath, made starts and the bowlers certainly cannot take credit for every wicket to fall, it is in the Tykes interests to move the game forward and get a result. In all a score of nearly 300 both advances proceedings and gives a positive Yorkshire result more of a chance.

There are far worse number 11s on the county circuit than Steve Patterson and it was up to him and Wainwright to secure push Yorkshire past 300, but Metters trapped Wainwright, who had played a lovely innings of 32 and Yorkshire were 297 all out and the 'so nearly' theme of the summer continued.

That concluded play for the day in the 95th over and Yorkshire will need to bowl well on Day 2 to stamp their authority on this match.

JAMES BUTTLER at HEADINGLEY

MATCH PREVIEW

Three games to go and Yorkshire are one point clear of 8th placed Worcestershire, but the Pears have one game in hand in the quest to avoid relegation from the LV= County Championship Division One.

Despite a wonderful effort to chase an imposing 351 to beat Sussex at Scarborough in only 55 overs the Tykes fell 32 runs short and had to settle for a draw and 9 points.

In the other fixtures at the bottom end of the division Worcestershire managed only 4 points in their defeat to Lancashire and Hampshire bowled Warwickshire out for just 98 to win by 209 runs and secure 19 points and give themselves hope. They are now only 24 points behind 7th placed Yorkshire and also have one game in hand.

This week's visitors, Warwickshire, will have been shell-shocked by their Edgbaston defeat to Hampshire as they try and chase down Lancashire at the top of the table. They remain in 4th position in Division One, have a game in hand on the Red Rose county, but are now 26 points behind the first placed side. They will be very keen to put things right at Headingley and with both sides with everything to play for this week's Championship fixture at Headingley could be an absolute cracker.

Varun Chopra has been this summer's batting star for the Bears after hitting 1,036 runs at 49.33 with a Championship best of 228. Chopra is however the only Warwickshire batsman to score over 500 runs this term. Chris Woakes has 493 runs to his name at 49.30 and also 48 wickets at only 18.25 with a best of 7-20. Boyd Ranking also has 48 wickets at 24.91 and the evergreen Rikki Clarke 37 at 25.91.

Chris Woakes however misses the Yorkshire match as does Will Porterfield and Boyd Rankin all absent on International duty. Darren Maddy, recovered from injury, Andy Miller and Chris Wright on loan from Essex, come into the Bears squad.

It was Clarke, in the corresponding fixture last season, who frustrated the Tykes for much of the match with 46 not out and 127 not out. His batting however could not prevent Yorkshire's victory by 6 wickets after Gerard Brophy had scored a first innings hundred, Adil Rashid took 9 match wickets and Steve Patterson 8 and then 80 from Jacques Rudolph and an unbeaten 64 from Jonny Bairstow saw Yorkshire home on Day 4.

More of those White Rose pots-match celebrations would be just what the doctor ordered this week!

JAMES BUTLER

YORKSHIRE SQUAD

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

Yorkshire are without their skipper Andrew Gale and Jonny Bairstow who has been called up to the England ODI squad. Jacques Rudolph continues to captain the side in Gale's absence.

WARWICKSHIRE SQUAD

IJ Westwood, V Chopra, S Chanderpaul, Maddy, JO Troughton (c), TR Ambrose (wk), R Clarke, KHD Barker, NM Carter, LJ Evans, AS Miller, CL Metters, CJC Wright.

CURRENT POINTS TABLE

TEAM	M	W	L	T	D	A	PTS
Lancashire	13	8	3	0	2	0	198
Durham	13	6	3	0	4	0	185
Somerset	13	6	4	0	3	0	177
Warwickshire	12	7	4	0	1	0	172
Nottinghamshire	13	4	4	0	5	0	145
Sussex	13	4	5	0	4	0	132
Yorkshire	13	2	5	0	6	0	107
Worcestershire	12	3	9	0	0	0	106
Hampshire	12	2	5	0	5	0	85

RELEGATION RUN-IN