Yorkshire 419 and 199 for 4 beat Somerset 272 and 344 by six wickets

A rousing fourth-wicket stand of 107 between opener Adam Lyth and captain Andrew Gale brought Yorkshire an outstanding six-wicket victory over Somerset in the final session of the LV County Championship match against Somerset at Headingley Carnegie.

As well as being Yorkshire's first Championship win at headquarters in almost exactly two years, it was their second consecutive triumph since the start of the season - and it left them clear leaders of the Division 1 table.

Set a target of 198 in 56 overs, Yorkshire stumbled to 61-3 before Gale, a century-maker in the first innings, and Lyth, took control - the skipper ending unbeaten on 64 while Lyth left just before the end for 90, narrowly missing out on the second first-class century of his career. It was thanks to paceman Oliver Hannon-Dalby, above, that Somerset finally were bowled out for 344 in their second innings - his second five-wicket haul in two Championship matches.

Hannon-Dalby took the only two wickets of the morning as Somerset reached 314-8 at lunch, a lead of 167, and Yorkshire still had a lot to do. An early breakthrough was needed when Somerset began the day on 202-6, only 55 ahead, but Zander de Bruyn and Damien Wright were in no mood to be shifted easily.

Tim Bresnan’s first ball of the day brought de Bruyn the single he needed for his half-century off 96 deliveries with six fours and a six. Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad both began impressively, but neither met with any success. The seventh-wicket pair held out for 40 minutes before Wright fell lbw for 25 in Hannon-Dalby’s second over after putting on 51 with de Bruyn. Hannon-Dalby had replaced Bresnan, who left the field for 20 minutes before returning.

de Bruyn had advanced to 83 from 134 balls with 10 fours and a six when he tried to take evasive action to a short one from Hannon-Dalby...but it struck the bat he was trying to withdraw, and Bresnan took a splendid one-handed catch diving to his right at second slip. With Somerset 259-8 Yorkshire must have thought the main resistance was over - but David Stiff proved a capable partner for Thomas, and he struck David Wainwright cleanly over long-off for six.

Hannon-Dalby almost picked up a third wicket when Thomas slashed hard and Wainwright made a valiant but futile attempt to hold on to a difficult overhead catch at backward point. Bresnan returned to the attack shortly before lunch, but Thomas and Stiff held out until the interval, when Thomas was 36 and Stiff 22.

At 333 it was bad news and good news for wicket-keeper Jonathan Bairstow: the bad news was that he dropped Stiff off the last ball of an over from Bresnan - and it was some moments before Bairstow could gather himself back to his feet - but the good news was that the next ball was the first of an over from Hannon-Dalby...Thomas slashed outside the off-stump, and Bairstow caught him for 44 off 91 balls, with five fours.

Willoughby's technique involved an initial movement to leg - but he still hoiked Hannon-Dalby for four - and Stiff slashed Stiff square fror six, an incredible blow.

Willoughby's antics ended when he sparred at Hannon-Dalby, and first-slip Jacques Rudolph took an overhead catch. Somerset all out 344, Hannon-Dalby 5-68, his second five-for in successive matches. Yorkshire were set to make 198 runs to win.

Willoughby and Wright gave Yorkshire a torrid start: Sayers had not scored when he played an uncharacteristic slash at Wright, and was caught behind by Kieswetter.

Anthony McGrath survived an lbw shout and was beaten again before he tucked Wright through square-leg for four to end the over.

Wright went for four twice in his next over when Lyth, left, pulled him through mid-wicket and drove him off the back foot through the covers. Another firm stroke to leg by Lyth was cut off in front of the East Stand. 

Thomas succeeded Willoughby - and with his first ball he got that bit of lift that made McGrath, third picture, guide it into the hands of Somerset skipper Marcus Trescothick at first slip. 17-2. McGrath 4, and Thomas and Nick Compton, extreme right, can be seen enjoying the victory dance.

Rudolph's first ball dropped just in front of Trescothick, and Thomas beat him again before the over ended. A wicket maiden.

Lyth forced Wright to the cover boundary again. Rudolph turned Thomas off his legs for four, straight-drove him for four...and when Willoughby took the Kirkstall Lane end Rudolph hit him to the long-on boundary. Lyth raced to complete the third run from a straight-drive off Willoughby.

Lyth edged Thomas for four, and Rudolph took two off Willoughby to long-leg to bring up the 50. Rudolph hammered Willoughby through the covers for four - and when Peter Trego took the Rugby Ground end Rudolph's straight-drive beat the falling mid-on.

Trescothick tried four bowling changes in 18 overs - but when de Bruyn took the Rugby Ground end Rudolph drove and was caught by Trego at short-cover for 27, including five fours. Gale was still to score when tea was taken at 62-3, with 136 still needed to win.

Gale got away after tea with a quick two to leg off de Bruyn and a deft dab to the third-man boundary. Lyth delicately glanced Trego to the South Stand boundary, and Gale drove him to the Kirkstall Lane sightscreen. Lyth sliced the first ball of Trego's next over wide of slip for four and drove the fifth through point to complete his 50 off 82 balls with seven fours.

Somerset set a defensive field, concentrating outside the off-side, but the 100 came up in the 29th over, with 27 to play. Gale raised the siege and the 50 stand when he thrashed de Bruyn through the cover cordon. Gale and Lyth thwarted the fielders by fast running - but when left-hander Suppiah loosed a full toss the skipper hit it straight back to the boundsary. David Stiff was introduced at 130-3, and Lyth forced a no-ball to long-on for three. Gale gave himself room to pick his own spot on the offisde, and hit Suppiah for another four. The 150 came up without further loss, and Gale survived an lbw appeal by Stiff. Lyth took two from Suppiah to the off to bring his score to 80 - and then stepped back to smack him to the cover boundary.

Gale put Stiff through point for two to bring up the 100 partnership, and Lyth took Stiff late off his body for four to long-leg. Lyth looked set for his second century in First Class cricket - but at 90, with the total 168, he edged to wicket-keeper Kieswetter to end his innings of 130 balls, with nine fours. Bairstow slashed Stiff over slip's head for four, and 18 were wanted with 12 overs remaining. Gale drove Trego off the back foot to the cover boundary to complete his 50 with seven fours.

The skipper took on Stiff's short ones with skilful footwork - cracking him through the covers to the vacant West Stand, hooking him to long-leg and glancing him for one last four - and Yorkshire had won by six wickets with 10.1 overs to spare. 199-4, Gale not out 64, with 10 fours, and Bairstow six. Yorkshire pocketed 22 points to Somerset's four.

DAY THREE REPORT

Only the weather seems likely to threaten Yorkshire's second successive LV County Championship victory today - Somerset are 54 ahead with four second-innings wickets to fall.

A stand of 111 for the eighth wicket between Adil Rashid, 63, and Ajmal Shahzad, 45, propelled Yorkshire to a first-innings lead of 147 at Headingley Carnegie - and by the close Somerset were 201-6.

Rashid and Shahzad batted throughout the morning before the innings closed on 419 early in the afternoon when Peter Trego captured the last three wickets in the space of eight balls for one run.

Captain Andrew Gale's fine century yesterday, along with Tim Bresnan's solid 61, meant that Yorkshire were able to start Day 3 on 320-7 in 103 overs, a lead of 48. Both batsmen wisely concentrated on building up a substantial partnership rather than attempting to score the 30 runs needed from the day’s first five overs in order to secure a fourth batting-bonus point. Scoring opportunities were not neglected, and Rashid whipped Charl Willoughby backward of square-leg for four while Shahzad thick-edged a boundary to third-man in the same over.

With 110 overs completed, Yorkshire were 339-7, which meant that they had taken six bonus points from the match compared with Somerset's four. Scoring suddenly increased for a while as Rashid steered Willoughby for four and drove two consecutive boundaries to make the stand worth 50 in 13 overs.

Somerset's attack rarely seemed to trouble the batsmen, and the introduction of Arul Suppiah's left-arm spin prompted Shahzad, left, to step down the pitch and straight-drive him for four with great power.

Rashid’s 50 came off 96 balls with seven fours - his single moving the score to 400-7, and the wicketless opening session of 87 runs was exactly what Yorkshire would have wanted.

Yorkshire to 407-7 at lunch. Rashid unbeaten on 54, and Shahzad 43.

Rashid opened up the proceedings after lunch by cover-driving Peter Trego for four - but Shahzad was caught behind trying to force Trego when five short of his 50.

Their stand was worth "Nelson" - 111 - and Shahzad had hit four fours. Wainwright - an accomplished century-maker at No. 10 - was bowled for a duck this time when he played over Trego.

The bowler made it three wickets for one run in eight balls when Rashid, with only No. 11 Oliver Hannon-Dalby for company, smashed a catch to Damien Wright at short-cover. Rashid's 63 in 127 balls included eight fours. Yorkshire all out 419 - a first-innings lead of 147.

Bresnan bowled a hostile spell from the Kirkstall Lane end when Somerset began their second innings: he had a confident appeal for a catch behind against Marcus Trescothick turned down before he almost forced the left-hander to chop into his stumps.

David Wainwright, left, joined the attack after only seven overs - but it was Bresnan who got his man when he trapped Trescothick lbw for 16, and Somerset were 30-1. He would then have sent back Arul Suppiah if Jacques Rudolph had not put down a fairly easy first-slip catch.

Suppiah and Nick Compton advanced the score to 69 before Wainwright deceived and bowled Compton with a full delivery, and at tea Somerset were 88-2 with Suppiah 44 and James Hildreth four. Yorkshire's lead had been reduced to 59.

Yorkshire struck immediately after tea- this time through Rashid's throwing arm. Suppiah played Wainwright to mid-wicket, went for the single...and Rashid fielded brilliantly to throw in to Jonathan Bairstow and snare Hildreth for four. 88-3.

Bresnan returned from the Kirkstall Lane end, and Suppiah sliced him to the third-man boundary. Suppiah drove Wainwright to short cover - where Anthony McGrath could not hold a hard, low chance. Bresnan tested de Bruyn with the short stuff - but the batsman forced one to the East Stand boundary to bring up the 100.

Wainwright was not afraid to give the ball air - but when he dropped short Suppiah whipped him over mid-wicket for his eighth four and his 50 off 96 balls. Rashid took the Kirkstall Lane end - and Suppiah heaved him for fours backward of square and through long-on. 

Hannon-Dalby took the Kirkstall Lane end - and with the first ball of his new spell Suppiah's luck ran out as he walked across and was lbw. 140-4, and Suppiah's 71 had included 12 fours. Wainwright entered his 19th over - and de Bruyn moved down to plant him for six over long-on.

de Bruyn and Kieswetter batted crisply to take Somerset into the lead - and Kieswetter had four fours in his 17 when Shahzad made him the 13th lbw victim of the match. 177-5. Trego, the scourge of Taunton last year, began with twos - but then popped a rising ball from Shahzad precariously to third-man for four. His luck did not last: Shahzad ended his over by having him caught off the outside edge by Bairstow for 10.  193-6. Wright hit Shahzad to the point boundary in the last over the day, and Somerset went in at 201-6, de Bruyn not out 49, with six fours and a six, and Wright not out seven.

Shahzad has 2-39 in nine overs, Hannon-Dalby 1-34 in seven, Bresnan 1-39 in 14 and Wainwright 1-57 in 19.

DAY TWO REPORT

Andrew Gale injected fresh life into Yorkshire with his first century since his appointment as first-team captain on Day 2 of their LV Championship match against Somerset at Headingley Carnegie.

Gale was out for 101 after adding 149 for the sixth wicket with Tim Bresnan, who was dismissed soon afterwards for 61. Their efforts were chiefly responsible for Yorkshire reaching 320-7 by the close, when they had built up a first-innings lead of 48.

Yorkshire, who bowled out Somerset for 272 yesterday, resumed on 17-1, and neither Sayers nor Anthony McGrath was allowed any liberties by a tight bowling attack. McGrath looked particularly sound early on: he off-drove Alfonso Thomas handsomely for four before reaching the rope with a similar stroke against Damien Wright, and then cutting him to the boundary when he pitched short. Generally, runs had to be prised out - but it came as something of a surprise when McGrath fell lbw to one from Charl Willoughby which kept a bit low, and Yorkshire were 45-2.

Former Yorkshire Second XI bowler David Stiff was brought into the attack, but Sayers straight-drove him for a welcome boundary to move into his 30s. Jacques Rudolph took a long time to settle in, and it was his 21st delivery before he cut Willoughby for four to get off the mark. Runs began to arrive more easily as Rudolph on-drove left-arm spinner Arul Suppiah for four in his first over and Sayers twice forced Stiff through the off side for boundaries. It looked as if left-handed opener Sayers, second picture, would have to wait until after lunch for his half-century - but he got there off the final ball from Suppiah with a firm shot through extra-cover, Rudolph going in on 23.

Sayers was 51 at lunch off 117 balls with seven boundaries, and his unbroken third-wicket stand with Rudolph was worth 61.

The hard graft of the morning was soon undone in the afternoon with the fall of three wickets in the first 45 minutes to leave Yorkshire struggling on 142-5. 

Sayers had not added to his score when he fell lbw to Wright, and five runs later it became 122-4 as Rudolph followed a ball from Thomas and was caught by wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter for 33.

Captain Gale's first three scoring shots were all boundaries, and there were consecutive cover fours from Jonathan Bairstow off Wright before the wicket-keeper/batsman played round one from Peter Trego to become the fourth lbw victim of the innings - the ninth out of 15 wickets to fall so far in the match.

Yorkshire gradually eased eased their way out of a tricky situation through some sensible batting from Gale and Bresnan, the sixth-wicket pair adding 55 by tea, when the total was 197.

Gale had one moment of good fortune, when he was dropped on 23 at cover by Trego off the bowling of Willoughby. Gale was 33 at tea,and Bresnan 29, both having recorded their best scores of the season.

Gale and Bresnan made substantial progress after tea and the runs really began to flow - particularly from Gale - when Somerset took the second new ball at 231-5. 

Gale immediately cover-drove Willoughby for four, Bresnan pulled Thomas to the edge and the stand entered three figures in 32 overs.

Bresnan's half-century contained seven fours and came off 116 balls, but it was his captain who inflicted most of the damage - two fours in an over off Thomas followed by three against Willoughby as the arrears were wiped out, 47 coming off the first seven overs with the new ball. A richly deserved first century for Gale as Yorkshire's captain arrived with a quick single after he had batted for 207 minutes, faced 155 balls and struck 16 fours.

The applause had barely died down when Gale planted a long-hop from Zander de Bruyn straight into the hands of Wright at cover to end a stand of 149 with the dependable Bresnan. Yorkshire had advanced to 291-6, and at 304, with a third batting bonus point in the bag, Bresnan was lbw to Wright for 61 from 155 deliveries with eight fours. Adil Rashid and Ajmal Shahzad calmly added a vital 16 runs together up to the close.

DAVID WARNER
Today's Live Picture Coverage From Headingley Carnegie: VAUGHN RIDLEY
DAY ONE REPORT

Yorkshire began their home season in style by bowling out Somerset for 272 on Day 1 of the LV County Championship match at Headingley Carnegie - despite a splendid innings of 117 from Marcus Trescothick, fourth picture. 

Oliver Hannon-Dalby, David Wainwright and Adil Rashid each picked up two wickets - but the main damage was done by Tim Bresnan, who put Yorkshire on top with three wickets for 10 runs in 26 balls during the afternoon session.

Yorkshire suffered an early shock when Adam Lyth departed to his second ball, and they were 16-1 when bad light ended play for the day with 11 overs remaining.

Shortly before the start Ajmal Shahzad and David Wainwright were re-presented with their county caps in front of the photographers by new captain Andrew Gale, below - and Wainwright was then included in the side at the expense of paceman Steven Patterson, the only change to the team which got off to a winning start against Warwickshire at Edgbaston last week. Despite the chilly weather there was a good crowd to watch Yorkshire open the bowling with Bresnan and Shahzad - and it was Shahzad who claimed the first wicket at 12 in the fifth over when Arul Suppiah edged a ball which nipped away from him into Jonny Bairstow’s gloves.

Trescothick won the toss, batted and settled in carefully, but Nick Compton had an escape when he appeared to edge Bresnan through Adil Rashid’s hands at third slip, the ball going to third-man for four.

The scoreboard began to tick over as Trescothick took two fours in an over off Shahzad, but when Oliver Hannon-Dalby took over from Bresnan he met with almost immediate success - his fifth delivery trapping Compton lbw for six to leave Somerset 35-2.

Anthony McGrath came on for Shahzad, but his first two balls were hit to the boundary backward of point by Trescothick, who then seized on three consecutive loose deliveries from Hannon-Dalby to race to his half-century off 46 balls with 10 boundaries.

His third-icket partner, James Hildreth, took a good look at the bowling before hitting Shahzad for his first boundary in 27 deliveries to take him into double figures.

Wainwright came on for his first bowl, but Somerset were making good progress now, and Hildreth helped himself to two consecutive boundaries off Shahzad.

Adil Rashid became Yorkshire's sixth bowler of the morning - and off his last ball before lunch he had Hildreth playing off bat and pad to short-leg, where Adam Lyth could not cling on to a difficult one-handed chance, Hildreth standing on 24 at the interval.

Trescothick continued to make progress after lunch - but Yorkshire suddenly gained the upper hand through excellent bowling from the Kirkstall Lane end by Bresnan, who captured three wickets in 26 balls for 10 runs to leave Somerset struggling on 139-5.

The first of his victims was Hildreth, who was lbw for a patient 30 off 62 balls with four boundaries after putting on 86 in 22 overs with Trescothick.

That wicket came off the first ball of a fresh over from Bresnan, and off the last delivery of his next over he had new batsman Zander de Bruyn steering a catch to Joe Sayers at gully to make it 127-4.

Next in was the potentially dangerous Carl Kieswetter, but he had made only seven when he, too, was snared lbw by Bresnan, who was putting in a great spell. Trescothick remained the chief danger man, and at 150-7 he had moved on to 87 off 129 balls with 11 fours.

Trescothick completed a faultless century off 160 balls with 13 fours when he on-drove Rashid to the boundary. The Somerset opener and captain had made his runs out of 186-5.

He continued to look dangerous, but after moving to 117 off 175 balls with two more fours he was trapped in front by Rashid to become the fourth lbw victim of the innings. His sixth-wicket stand with Peter Trego was worth 67.

Next batsman Damien Wright soon hit a ball from Wainwright high over mid-wicket for the first six of the match, and at tea Somerset were 221-6 in 64 overs, Trego on 28 and Wright 13, the honours just about even.

Yorkshire then enjoyed a spell in which they wrapped up the rest of the innings for 51 runs: Trego advanced to 45, with eight fours, but at 244 he chopped Hannon-Dalby into his wicket.

Eight runs later Wright's lusty 21 with two fours and six ended when he smacked Rashid straight to Shahzad at mid-on, and Thomas swung two fours before a fifth lbw decision gave Wainwright his first wicket of the innings. Willoughby heaved Rashid to the long-on boundary, scythed ferociously at Wainwright...and the ball went only as far as Rudoph at slip. Bresnan finished with 3-48 in 17 overs, while Rashid, Wainwright and Hannon-Dalby took two wickets each.

Adam Lyth and Joe Sayers went out for Yorkshire in not the best of light - and left-armer Willoughby trapped Lyth lbw for a duck second ball. Trego at slip missed Sayers off Wright before he had scored, and at 12-1 the umpires conferred before deciding to play on. Sayers nicked Willoughby to the third-man boundary, but at 5.30pm the umpires brought the players in. Yorkshire 16-1, Sayers seven not out and McGrath six.

DAVID WARNER
And finally...another look at Yorkshire County Cricket Club photographer VAUGHN RIDLEY'S photo album of Day 1 at Headingley Carnegie
 

Danger removed: Tim Bresnan snares Carl Kieswetter as one of Somerset's five lbws
 

Take-off: Oliver Hannon-Dalby leaps into action as Marcus Trescothick looks on
 

Spin to the fore: Adil Rashid, above, and David Wainwright each took two wickets
 
PREVIEW: After the tremendous victory over Warwickshire, Andrew Gale leads an unchanged squad for the visit of Somerset to Headingley Carnegie.

Somerset were the only side to defeat Yorkshire in the LV= County Championship last summer, both home and away. Can Yorkshire gain revenge in 2010?

The match commences at 11am on Thursday 15th April.

Ajmal Shahzad and David Wainwright will be represented with their county caps approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of Day 1. Bring your cameras!

YORKSHIRE SQUAD

Joe Sayers, Adam Lyth, Anthony McGrath, Jacques Rudolph, Andrew Gale (capt), Jonathan Bairstow (wk), Adil Rashid, Tim Bresnan, Ajmal Shahzad, Steven Patterson, Oliver Hannon - Dalby, David Wainwright and Richard Pyrah.

SOMERSET SQUAD

Marcus Trescothick (capt), Arul Suppiah, Nick Compton, James Hildreth, Zander du Bruyn, Craig Kieswetter (wk), Peter Trego, Alfonso Thomas, Damien Wright, David Stiff, Charl Willoughby, Ben Phillips and Michael Munday.

MATCH INFORMATION

Hours of Play 

Morning session: 11am to 1pm
Afternoon session: 1.40pm to 3.40pm
Evening session: 4pm to 6pm

In the event of more than 32 overs remaining to be bowled at 3.40pm (3.10pm in matches scheduled to start in September) the tea interval will be delayed and play will continue until 32 overs remain to be bowled at which time the tea interval will commence.

(Timings are brought forward 30 minutes for matches where the first day of the match is scheduled to start in September). On each of the first three days there is provision for playing time to be extended by the amount of time lost in that day up to a maximum of 30 minutes.