Yorkshire have gone a record 19 First Class matches without a victory following their draw against LV Championship title-holders Durham at Headingley Carnegie today.

Yorkshire have gone a record 19 First Class matches without a victory following their draw against LV Championship title-holders Durham at Headingley Carnegie today.

They took 10 points from the game compared to their opponents' seven - but the result was still a bitter disappointment after they had appeared to be in a winning position for much of the game.

With Yorkshire's attack lacking a cutting edge in the second innings, Durham were able to turn a deficit of 135 into a lead of 286 before declaring at 421-9 to leave Anthony McGrath's men a minimum of 55 overs in which to hit their target. They never looked like making an effective challenge, and the game ended in stalemate at 5.30pm, Yorkshire 98-4.

The White Rose were slight favourites overnight - but they failed to take a wicket on the final morning as the balance of power shifted. Durham’s eighth-wicket pair of Phil Mustard, pictured reverse-sweeping Adil Rashid, and Liam Plunkett marched on - their stand worth 127 by the interval to extend their lead to 260 with a minimum of 62 overs remaining. Mustard was put down twice on his way to an unbeaten 78 with nine boundaries, while Plunkett stood on 49 from 150 deliveries with four fours and a six.

Yorkshire were without all-rounder Ajmal Shahzad, who did not take the field because of a tweaked hamstring but was expected to bat if required. Durham resumed on 288-7, only 153 ahead, and Yorkshire expected a quick breakthrough.

Hopes were soon dashed. Mustard, left, reached his half-century from 101 balls with seven fours - but at 342-7, when Mustard had 55, Tim Bresnan induced an edge, an acceptable chance which Jacques Rudolph put down to his left at slip.

The stand reached three figures to bring back memories of the corresponding match last season when Mustard and Plunkett added 143 for the same wicket - Durham going on to win by eight wickets.

There was another life for Mustard, 69, when he struck Rashid firmly to deep mid-on: Adam Lyth made good ground towards the ball before dropping it.

Things went from bad to worse in the same over as Plunkett belted consecutive balls for two fours and a six, and there was more misery when Mustard swept Rudolph’s occasional leg-spin for four.

The stand had reached 147 when Mustard caught Bresnan high on the bat as he aimed to long-on, and the bowler had plenty of time to move round and under it. Mustard's 85 was compiled in 213 minutes off 149 balls, with 10 fours.

Six runs later Plunkett holed out to Hoggard at mid-off to give Naved-ul-Hasan his first wicket, and this time the declaration came - at 421-9. Plunkett's 65 included five fours and one six.

Hoggard was Yorkshire's chief wicket-taker with 3-67 in 29 overs. Bresnan had 2-69 in 29 overs, and Rashid 2-124 in 43 overs. Yorkshire now needed 287 runs to win in 55 overs - a far more distant target than had seemed likely last night.

Left-handers Jacques Rudolph and Joe Sayers endured six fiery overs from Steve Harmison - whose recall to the England squad was announced during his spell - but it was when Plunkett succeeded Harmison at the Kirkstall Lane end that disaster struck: Sayers tried to turn one through square-leg, and was comfortably taken by Mark Stoneman for 14. 47-1.

McGrath joined Rudolph, who moved into the 30s with three crisp fours, but in Plunkett's next over McGrath was lbw for a duck as he pushed half forward. 51-2. Next came Plunkett the catcher: at 61 left-arm spinner Ian Blackwell gained reward in his ninth over when Rudolph gave a bat-pad catch at silly point. 63-3. Rudolph's departure for 39 with four fours left the young players exposed on the front line.

Adam Lyth had scored only two when he prodded Blackwell to Muchall at short square-leg. 68-4, and Jonathan Bairstow joined Andrew Gale. Harmison returned, and then Plunkett, but it was Blackwell, toiling away from the football end, who must have come close to winning an lbw decision against Gale.

The young batsmen came sensibly through their trial - Gale more likely to find the attacking shot, but when Mark Davies came on for his first bowl  Bairstow glanced him through the vacant fine-leg area for four.  The last hour was called - 16 overs to play. In the 12th over the umpires looked at the light. Gale took a blow on the elbow from Davies. The umpires conferred...and this time they pulled out the stumps.

DAVID WARNER

Cruel cut: Joe Sayers at slip has both feet firmly off the ground as Phil Mustard cuts savagely. Jacques Rudolph, extreme left, and wicket-keeper Jonathan Bairstow look on.

Today's Action Pictures From Headingley Carnegie: VAUGHN RIDLEY

Day 3: Matthew Hoggard took three wickets, but Yorkshire were unable to finish off defiant Durham on Day 3 of their LV Championship match at Headingley Carnegie.

Anthony McGrath's men may be slight favourites to force their first win of 2009 - but the visitors could still have the last word in this fiercely contested encounter.

Durham closed on 288-7, which gave them a lead of 153 after trailing by 135 on the first innings. The most successful Yorkshire bowler was Hoggard - with one wicket before lunch and two afterwards.

Michael Di Venuto led Durham’s fightback as Yorkshire saw much of the initiative slip away before lunch. The left-handed opener was unbeaten on 61 at lunch, when Durham were 125-2, trailing by only 10 runs. They had started the day on 26-1, 109 runs behind, and it was not long before Hoggard accounted for nightwatchman Mark Davies, who edged one which nipped away into Jonathan Bairstow’s gloves.

Kyle Coetzer soon took a single to avoid bagging a pair, and Yorkshire’s useful lead was quickly whittled away as the third-wicket pair appeared largely untroubled by pace or spin. Adil Rashid shared the opening attack with Hoggard before they were replaced by Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad, who looked threatening without being able to make inroads.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan was unsuccessful, despite sending down some testing deliveries, and when Rashid switched briefly to the Kirkstall Lane end Di Venuto took a single to complete his 50 off 87 balls with five fours, and raise the 100. Jacques Rudolph was given a solitary over, and at lunch Di Venuto was 61 and Coetzer 33, the partnership worth 86.

Shahzad steamed in hard from the football end after lunch - and he was unlucky when he persuaded Coetzer to edge hard and low to second-slip Joe Sayers, who could not hold it. Naved hammered away - but the partners wiped off the deficit, and completed the 100 partnership. Hoggard came back at the Kirkstall Lane end - and the crowd erupted when he rattled Coetzer's off-stump for 38, with three fours.

148-3.  Cue for Bresnan: Di Venuto sliced his first ball precariously to fine-leg for four - and chopped his fourth into the middle stump. Di Venuto's 84 included eight fours, and he had sen Durham into the black - but at 158-4 Yorkshire were back in the driving seat. Benkenstein picked Hoggard beautifully of his legs to the boundary, and Muchall hooked Bresnan.

Rashid replaced Bresnan - but next over Hoggard struck again, when Muchall was lbw for 15 as he moved across. 178-5. Only 43 ahead, with half the side out. Rashid now tormented Benkenstein with an over of sharp turn from just short of a length. New batsman Blackwell twice drove Naved through the covers without reaching the rope, and the pair survived until tea, when Durham were 204-5, Benkenstein not out 14, and Blackwell 17.

At 209-5 Shahzad took the new ball. Bresnan's first delivery from the other end went for four leg-byes off Blackwell's pads. The batsmen looked to be weathering the storm when the hard-working Shahzad found the edge and Blackwell was caught low down outside the off-stump by Bairstow for 32, including one boundary. 231-6, Benkenstein not out 22.

Mustard found the rope twice, and the lead passed 100. A 242-6 Rashid returned, and Mustard survived a shout for lbw.  Hoggard rapped Benkenstein on the pads, but it was not out. Benkenstein whipped Rashid through mid-wicket, but the slow outfield prevented the boundary. Rashid varied his flight and length to make something happen - and at 268 he trapped Benkenstein lbw as he pushed forward. Benkenstein had endured for three hours for his 36 off 128 balls, with one four.

Naved bowled Plunkett with a no-ball...it might have been 275-8. Mustard drove a full-toss from Rashid through long-on for four, and the lead was 150. Mustard and Plunkett saw it out, Durham coming in on 288-7, with Mustard 29, including four fours, and Plunkett 6. A lead of 153.

DAVID WARNER

PROSPECTS OF PLAY

Play will start on time this morning at 11am despite heavy overnight rain. The umpires have just checked the outfield and are happy we can make a prompt start.

DAY TWO REPORT 

Andrew Gale, second picture, defied Durham for almost five hours while making a splendid 84 to put Yorkshire in a commanding position at the end of Day 2 of their LV Championship match at Headingley Carnegie.

Despite some ferocious bowling from Stephen Harmison, second picture, who could well have earned an England recall with figures of 5-60, Gale's epic innings took Yorkshire's final total to 313.

It gave Yorkshire a first-innings lead of 135, Durham closing on 26-1 second time around after Adil Rashid had dismissed Mark Stoneman late in the day. Yorkshire had gone to lunch at 127-5, still trailing by 51 on first innings.

Joe Sayers was 34 and Anthony McGrath 13 when Yorkshire started the day on 64-1, but Harmison captured 3-7 in seven overs as Yorkshire slumped to 93-5, and it was left to Gale and Tim Bresnan to see their side to the interval. Only seven had been added when McGrath edged a rising ball he could not avoid from Harmison to Kyle Coetzer at third slip.

Next to go was Sayers - who turned Harmison off the middle of the bat to short-leg, where Mark Stoneman held a reflex catch. A fired-up Harmison then persuaded Adam Lyth to waft outside off-stump and give a catch to wicket-keeper Phil Mustard. So difficult was Harmison to handle that it took Gale 20 balls to get off the mark, and with Mitch Claydon also bowling well at the football end scoring was not easy for Yorkshire.

Claydon and Harmison took a well deserved rest, but the problems did not end for Yorkshire. Jonathan Bairstow spoiled a careful start by driving too casually at left-armer Mark Davis, and Liam Plunkett held on to an easy catch in the gully. Gale remained in particularly watchful mood while Bresnan established himself, and at lunch Gale had moved slowly to 15 from 76 deliveries, Bresnan standing on 23 off 10 fewer overs than his partner.

Harmison and Claydon were back after the interval, but Bresnan was growing in confidence: he pulled each bowler for four in successive overs - and when the 50 stand was raised he had 35 of them.

Claydon gave way to left-arm spinner Ian Blackwell...but Harmison struck again from the Kirkstall Lane End: Bresnan edged him hard to third-slip Coetzer, who held it well moving to his left. Tim's 36 had included five fours, and Yorkshire were 147-6.

Gale had been at the crease for 135 minutes when he hit his first boundary, swinging Harmison round to fine-leg. Adil Rashid stood on tip-toe to cut a rising ball from Harmison handsomely for four to the East Stand.

Claydon replaced the weary Harmison: Rashid clipped him off his legs for two...drove him through mid-off for four...turned him through mid-wocket for four...and drove him through extra-cover for two more.

Gale played a couple of streaky shots against Blackwell, but he advanced into the 30s. He pushed Claydon through mid-off for three to give Yorkshire the lead, and next ball Rashid cut Claydon for another four.

Mark Davies took the Kirkstall Lane End, and Rashid steered him exquisitely to the third-man boundary. The 50 partnership came up - and Rashid had 32 of them with five fours. Adil's delightful knock came to an end when he pushed half forward to Blackwell, and was lbw. 198-7.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan heaved Blackwell for four to put up the 200, and Gale picked up the second boundary of this three-hour innings when he laid back to crack the left-hander through the covers.

Naved smacked Davies to the leg boundary - and then lifted Blackwell over long-on for the first six of the match. Davies dropped short to Gale, who swung him round to the West Stand for his third four. The lead was worth 50. Harmison took the new ball. His first delivery was enough to complete his five-for: a soft dismisssal, as Naved flicked to Mark Stoneham at mid-wicket. His 22 off 17 balls included two fours and a six.

229-8. Ajmal Shahzad started with singles - but then crunched Claydon off the back foot through point for four, and in his next over snicked him to the long-leg boundary. Gale was still playing the anchor role - he had occupied the crease for 10 minutes short of four hours when he helped Harmison round the corner for his fourth four to bring up his 50 and the 250. Tea came at 252-8, with Gale on 54 and Shahzad 13 with two fours.

Shahzad glanced Plunkett for four after the interval - and Gale came down the track to loft Blackwell to the long-off boundary. Gale advanced again, missed, and was lucky not to be stumped. Gale cut Blackwell to the third-man boundary to bring up the 100 lead and the 50 partnership. Plunkett dropped short to Shahzad - who pulled him ferociously through mid-wicket for four. Shahzad bludgeoned Blackwell over long-on-for six, and it was the highest stand of the innings.

Gale edged Plunkett between wicket-keeper and slip to the rope to bring up the 300. Shahzad smashed Blackwell for six again - coming to 40 not out and his career-best in First Class cricket. Gale drove Blackwell through the covers for four, but then was bowled on the drive to end his 290-minute vigil for 84 off 217 balls, with nine fours. 313-9. Matthew Hoggard touched Blackwell to Di Venuto at slip without addition, and poor Shahzad was left stranded.

Harmison's 25 overs were rewarded with 5-60, and Blackwell's 26 overs brought him 3-66. Yorkshire took the field with a lead of 135, and 13 overs remaining. Bresnan and Hoggard opened the attack. Stoneman hit three fours, and after only four overs Rashid took the football end. At 20 Rashid drew first blood when Stoneman hit over him and was bowled.

Durham closed on 26-1, with Di Venuto on 13 and Davies 1. They are 109 behind, with nine second-innings wickets standing.

DAVID WARNER

Today's Action Pictures From Headingley Carnegie: VAUGHN RIDLEY

DAY ONE REPORT

Ajmal Shahzad and Adil Rashid each picked up three wickets as Yorkshire bowled out title-holders and table-toppers Durham for 178, and then reached 64-1 on Day 1 of their LV Championship match at Headingley Carnegie.

It was the lowest total Yorkshire have inflictted on their opponents this season - and the start they needed if they were to register their first win of the campaign. Durham won the toss and made a solid start, but a quick-thinking run-out by skipper Anthony McGrath - followed by two wickets in three balls for Shahzad - put Yorkshire in control.

Yorkshire were unable to make much impression in the early stages after both Matthew Hoggard and Tim Bresnan had begun with a maiden to left-handers Michael Di Venuto and Mark Stoneman. Only 21 came off the first 11 overs, but there was little sign of a wicket. Both batsmen continued to make progress with occasional boundary shots and well-judged singles when Shahzad and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan took over the attack.

The breakthrough came at 47 in the 17th over - thanks to an alert piece of fielding at mid-off by McGrath: Stoneman drove Naved, second picture, firmly towards the fielder, and immediately set off for a run. McGrath pounced on the ball and hurled it into the stumps, with Stoneman still well short of his crease.

Di Venuto hooked and pulled consecutive balls from Shahzad to the boundary, but the bowler soon found a better length and line.

He dismissed Kyle Coetzer and Gordon Muchall before either had scored - Coetzer edging to wicket-keeper Jonathan Bairstow, who took a well-judged catch diving to his right, and Muchall trapped flush in front of his stumps by a full-pitched delivery.

Durham were suddenly 55-3. It became 62-4 soon after Rashid came on at the football end, his 10th delivery deceiving and bowling the dangerous Di Venuto for 29. Dale Benkenstein and Ian Blackwell took the visitors to lunch without further loss.

Rashid was varying his pace and flight with great skill - and his reward came again at 82, when he pushed one through to Blackwell, who was bowled as he tried to give himself room to cut.

Yorkshire's next success came from the Kirkstall Lane End: Naved induced Phil Mustard to prod outside off-stump without moving his feet - and Jacques Rudolph took a fine, falling catch at slip. 101-6. Benkenstein clipped Naved for three successive fours - but also edged him just short of slip.

Shahzad returned with great fire, and at 128 he won an lbw decision against Plunkett - who was back on his stumps, but might have wondered about the height.

Benkenstein came to his 50 with four fours, and he survived an appeal for a catch at the wicket off Shahzad. One-time Yorkshire paceman Mitch Claydon gained in stature at the other end.

Back came Rashid: Claydon gave a hard chance to Andrew Gale at short-leg, but it went down. Claydon popped one up to the right of the bowler, but Rashid could not get across in time.

Adil then bowled his first bad ball - a short one outside the left-hander's off-stump, which Claydon crunched through the covers for four to the East Stand. Tea came at 171-7, Benkenstein 55 and Claydon 20.

Hoggard struck at last: Claydon gloved a lifter outside the off-stump to Bairstow. 171-8. Benkenstein declined singles in order to keep Steve Harmison from the bowling - and when Harmison had to face Rashid he was tied up in knots by the variation in flight: he survived one vain mow in the direction of the Old Pavilion...but was lbw to the next. 176-9.

Benkenstein was running out of partners. He flailed at Hoggard outside the off-stump...and gave Bairstow his third catch. Benkenstein had battled through 185 minutes for his 62 off 141 balls, with four fours. Durham all out 178. Rashid led Yorkshire's bowling with 3-32 in 18 overs, followed by Shahzad's 3-39 in 12 overs. Hoggard had 2-36 and Naved 1-38.

Yorkshire had 23 overs of batting tonight - and disaster struck in the fourth. Rudolph was pushing forward to Claydon when he touched a low off-side catch to wicket-keeper  Mustard. 9-1. McGrath joined Joe Sayers - and recoiled in some pain when Harmison struck him on the right hand. The batsmen managed to survive his opening burst, with Sayers looking as comfortable at the start of his innings as on any previous occasion this season.

The left-hander took two boundaries in an over off both Claydon and Plunkett to give him five fours in his first 28 runs, and progress was sufficiently swift to hurry Yorkshire to 52-1 by the ninth over. Blackwell came on for a couple of overs, but could not make inroads, and Yorkshire closed a highly successful day on 64-1, with Sayers not out 34, and McGrath 13.

DAVID WARNER

Strike force: Yorkshire Captain Anthony McGrath leads the congratulations of Ajmal Shahzad. Also, left to right, Tim Bresnan, Adam Lyth, Joe Sayers, Andrew Gale, Jonathan Bairstow and Jacques Rudolph.

Today's Action Pictures From Headingley Carnegie: VAUGHN RIDLEY

YORKSHIRE SQUAD

Jacques Rudolph, Joe Sayers, Anthony McGrath (capt), Adam Lyth, Andrew Gale, Jonathan Bairstow (wk), Tim Bresnan, Adil Rashid, Rana Naved, Matthew Hoggard, Ajmal Shahzad, David Wainwright and Deon Kruis.   

DURHAM SQUAD

Michael Di Venuto, Mark Stoneman, Gordon Muchall, Kyle Coetzer, Dale Benkenstein (c), Ian Blackwell, Phil Mustard (wk), Liam Plunkett, Mitchell Claydon, Mark Davies, Stephen Harmison, Callum Thorp and Gareth Breese. 

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.

Overs in a day 

Play shall continue on each day until the completion of a minimum number of overs or until the scheduled cessation time, whichever is the later. The minimum number of overs to be completed, unless an innings ends or an interruption occurs, shall be:

• 96 overs minimum on days other than the last day
• 80 overs minimum on the last day plus 16 overs in the last hour unless captains agree there is no prospects of a positive result.

Points System 

• 14 points for a win plus bonus points in the first innings
• In a tie, each side to score seven points, plus any bonus points in the first innings
• In a drawn match, each side to score four points, plus any bonus points scored in the first innings. If a match is abandoned without a ball being bowled, each side to score four points
• Batting bonus points, awarded only for performances in the first 120 overs of each first innings and retained whatever the result of the match:
  200 to 249 runs - 1 point
  250 to 299 runs - 2 points
  300 to 349 runs - 3 points
  350 to 399 runs - 4 points
  400 runs or over - 5 points
• Bowling bonus points, awarded only for performances in the first 120 overs of each first innings and retained whatever the result of the match:
  3 to 5 wickets taken - 1 point
  6 to 8 wickets taken - 2 points
  9 to 10 wickets taken - 3 points

The side which has the highest aggregate of points gained at the end of the season shall be the Champion County.