Yorkshire hit the 54 runs required to win with the loss of one wicket as victory was secured by 6 wickets. Joe Root finished unbeaten on 52 not out as Yorkshire lifted themselves out of the relegation zone.

It was free entry at Scarborough today for the conclusion of this vital relegation battles when most people thought it would have ended early yesterday. It is testament to Worcestershire's fighting qualities that Day 4 had any play at all, but Yorkshire were only 54 runs short of a hard earned victory that would secure them 23 vital Championship points and leapfrog them over Worcestershire and out of the relegation zone.

Yorkshire will however be deducted two points for a slow overrate in this fixture. It isn't the first time this season for Andrew Gale's team that a slow over-rate has been an issue but previously they have always engineered a get-out spell. With Rashid missing with an injured finger for much of yesterday afternoon Gale was unable to restore the balance as he sacrificed overrate to ensure the win.

Runs flowed pretty freely in the morning to ease any lingering nerves as the two youngsters pushed within fifty of victory. Bairstow stroked Richardson to the cover fence and tucked Ajmal through wide min-on in the next over. A nudged single brought up the fifty partnership just within the first half hour.

Joe Root rocked back and drove Shantry behind point for four and Yorkshire moved within 16 of victory, but the next ball from Saeed Ajmal brought Bairstow forward and he was stumped - 118-4. Root went to a fine fifty from 140 balls with 5 fours and the runs required were in single figures. Gary Ballance hit the winning runs through cover and the Scarborough crowd who'd returned were rewarded with a 6 wicket win within the hour.

JAMES BUTTLER at SCARBOROUGH

MATCH INFO

DAY THREE REPORT

Yorkshire ended Day 3 on 80-3 chasing 134 runs to beat Worcestershire at Scarborough. They require another 54 runs to win tomorrow morning. Anyone who booked out of their B&B expecting the Tykes to win comfortably should have known better - this side, this year do not do easy victories and that's why reporting them and supporting them can be so interesting, frustrating and remorseless.

The Yorkshire faithful headed back to North Marine Road hoping to see six Worcestershire wickets tumble and Yorkshire secure their second victory of their Championship campaign. The word from the Yorkshire dressing room after Day 2 was to guard against complacency. Winning positions have been thrown away before this summer and Andrew Gale's men were determined not to let that happen again in this vital encounter.

It was tough work in the first hour as Worcestershire added 30 runs for the loss of no wickets in colder weather and patience was the watchword. Then Ajmal Shahzad, in his third over operating from the Peasholme Park End for the first time in the match, induced a drive from James Cameron (18) and the edge was pouched well be Adil Rashid at 3rd slip and Worcestershire were 6 down and still trailing by 87 runs.

Daryl Mitchell was an hour on 46 before cutting Richard Pyrah to the cover fence and bringing up his fifty from 133 balls including 9 fours. Gareth Andrew was dropped by Rashid when on 15 to a far easier chance off Shahzad than he'd caught earlier. Rashid had hurt his right index finger and left the field to receive treatment, but returned a few overs later. Mitchell then got one that kept low and nipped back from Pyrah and was bowled for 55.

It had been a frustrating morning for Yorkshire who bolwed well with little reward to see Worcestershire 168-6 at the break, but Shahzad reemerged and bowled Ben Scott with the 4th ball of the first over after the interval.

Gareth Andrew was joined by Saeed Ajmal and the pair cleared the deficit and ensured Yorkshire would have to bat again just before Gareth Andrew reached his 10th first-class fifty from 67 balls and 5 fours. He then gave Richard Pyrah the charge to the second ball of his spell from the Trafalgar Square End and the score was 216-8 and the lead only 19 runs.

Ajmal Shahzad has put in his best display of the Championship summer with both bat and ball, but Yorkshire would rue a plethora of dropped catches if playing stronger opposition. Saeed Ajmal and Jack Shantry were determined to make the Tykes battle as long as they could. Saeed had been dropped by Ballance when the score was 223 - were Yorkshire going to regret that miss?

The pair's fifty partnership came at 3pm, but Ajmal nicked an excellent Pyrah delivery to Bairstow and Yorkshire scented victory, but then Ballance dropped his fourth catch of the match when he spilled Shantry off Bresnan when on 21.

Shantry welcomed Shahzad back into the attack to bowl the 87th over with three consecutive fours as the final pair decided to have a swing. Shantry's previous best was 14 not out and he didn't get everything out of the middle, but it was an impressive display from the tailender. Their fifty stand came at 320-9 and Yorkshire hearts were wobbling, but 10 runs later Sidebottom bowled Richardson for 31, Shantry was unbeaten on 47 and Worcestershire were all out for 332. Richard Pyrah finished with 4-91 to seal an excellent week in Scarborough for him.

Yorkshire required 134 to win in 33 plus a possible further 8 overs and a few in the crowd were starting to talk about the Notts defeat at Headingley when Yorkshire were bowled out for 86. That wouldn't happen again would it?

Root played back to Saeed Ajmal in his first over and edged to Mitchell when on 4, but the chance was spilled and Yorkshire moved to 21-1. Alan Richardson had the ball on a string from the Peasholme Park End and Yorkshire were batting like a team who knew how important gaining 21 points for the win could be and they didn't care when they crossed the finishing line. Root struck a fluent off-drive to the boundary to take the score to 29-1, but there was no urgency - we were in the 16th over.

McGrath then left a ball from Richardson that nipped back and it was 29-2 when the umpire confirmed the lbw shout. Andrew Gale joined Root and the run-rate slowly increased, but it seemed likely we'd be back for Day 4 with the overs remaining dwindling. Richardson finally ended his marathon stint with 11-4-15-1.

Gale played some fluent shots around the ground and Root hit Shantry through mid-wicket for 4 and at 58-2 with 10 scheduled and 8 possible additional overs to play the chance of a three-day finish rose, but then Ajmal tossed one up and Gale pushed forward enough to be stumped for 17 and at 58-3 the match swung again.

Jonny Bairstow got off the mark with an edge between the two slips which could easily have been caught if they'd not both dived the wrong way. He then drove Shantry to the cover fence to take the score to 69-3.

Root remains 31 not out with Bairstow unbeaten on 12 and the pair will resume tomorrow requiring another 54 runs to claim 23 points.

JAMES BUTTLER at SCARBOROUGH

DAY TWO REPORT

Yorkshire were finally dismissed for 367 on Day 2 after a wonderful 70 from Ajmal Shahzad secured a first innings lead of 199. Worcestershire were 82-4 by the close still 117 runs adrift.

Yorkshire started Day 2 33 runs behind with 5 wickets still remaining. The match was tantalisingly poised. Early wickets and the efforts of yesterday could quickly be undone. A good morning session for the Tykes and a healthy lead could even see Yorkshire force a two-day finish.

Andrew Gale was potentially the key. Unbeaten on 66 overnight he edged Richardson’s 5th ball of the morning  to Moeen Ali at 3rd slip, a regulation chance, that went in and came straight back out again. One wondered how important that would be in both the context of the match and the season.

These days Gale rarely needs a second chance and with Gary Ballance, who is growing in stature with every 1st Team appearance, Yorkshire looked set to take advantage, but Gale tried to turn the same bowler to leg 4 overs later and was plumb in front for 72. The missed chance lost much of its significance.

The plan was to avoid losing further wickets in the first hour and Yorkshire’s determination was illustrated as they added only 10 runs in the first 12 overs of the day’s play. It wasn’t until Bresnan drove Worcestershire’s 78th delivery of the day off Richardson to the cover fence that Yorkshire hit their first boundary.

Yorkshire nudged level Worcestershire’s first inning score in the 57th over with a Ballance boundary and three balls later the left hander was dropped on 15 by Ali off Gareth Andrew as the ball ran away for 2 runs to push the Tykes ahead.

The innings gradually gathered pace. Bresnan drove with good timing and Ballance found the gaps. Successive Ballance cuts of Ajmal reached the fence as the pair vied exchanged a personal battle for who had the most individual runs.

At lunch Yorkshire are 235-6, Bresnan was on 46 and Ballance has edged in front on their personal battle on 46. Their 7th wicket partnership worth 92 runs was not added to when Bresnan was bowled by Gareth Andrew on the third ball after the break.

Ballance reached his fifty from 127 balls including 4 fours, but then fell lbw to Richardson’s first delivery with the new ball and Yorkshire were 254-8 with a lead of 86 runs.  Rashid played fluently for 14 before being lbw to Shantry without playing a shot.

Shahzad and Sidebottom were not ready for a bowl however. Shahzad deposited Worcestershire’s Ajmal into the popular stand for a six to bring up the 300 as he began his rampage, secured a 3rd batting point and then cracked another maximum towards the newly refurbished Tea Room. He wasn’t going to end there and the Scarborough crowd were loving it.

Shahzad reached his fifty from 50 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes and the score was 338-9. Yorkshire were smelling another batting point, the partnership moved to 80 as the lead stretched to 170.

Sidebottom was playing his part well. A couple of sweetly played boundaries interspersed with resolute defence and the occasional nudged single.

A fourth Shahzad six driven over long-on off Andrew saw Yorkshire pass 350 and secure a 4th bonus point. The hundred stand was reached and it was only the 11th time in Yorkshire’s history that the last wicket has reached three figures in the Championship – the first time at Scarborough. Arnie Sidebottom, who featured in the 3rd highest of 144 in Cardiff in 1977, was present to see his son’s heroics. Ryan’s 28 not out did not quite match his Dad’s 124 34-years earlier, but in this relegation battle was vital.

When the partnership was 109 (the 7th best in the Championship by Yorkshire and the best ever against Worcestershire) Shahzad finally skied Ajmal to Richardson at long-on and was dismissed for 70, his 3rd Championship half century, but by then Yorkshire’s lead had climbed to 199.

Worcestershire progressed to 58-2. Sidebottom struck with the final ball of the first over when he had Matt Pardoe caught by Bresnan at slip for 2. Vikram Solanki and Daryl Mitchell added 45 for the 2nd wicket before Shahzad had the former lbw for 30. Moeen Ali pushed into the covers for a sharp single and Anthony Mcgrath swooped and threw down the stumps at the non-strikers end with the batsman short for a duck. Worcestershire were 57-3.

Mitchell (38 not out) was joined by Alexei Kervezee (1 not out) to see Worcestershire through to the close still 117 runs adrift.

Joe Root and Adam Lyth open for Yorkshire as they chase 134 to win. Lyth hit Shantry for consecutive cover boundaries to ease the nerves. But then Root pushed to leg and Lyth turned for the second run that wasn't there and a direct hit saw him short of his ground. 13-1 and McGrath joined Root. It was the elder statesman to guide the youth.

JAMES BUTTLER in SCARBOROUGH

DAY ONE REPORT

Yorkshire hold a slender advantage after Day 1 after a good day which could have been better. Andrew Gale has led the way with the bat with an unbeaten 66 as Yorkshire closed on 135-5 in response to Worcestershire's 168 all out.

Yorkshire won an important toss and elected to field first on a pitch with more than a tinge of green. They soon made the breakthrough when Ryan Sidebottom got a delivery to swing back into Matt Pardoe to trap him lbw and then in the following over Tim Bresnan forced Daryl Mitchell back and induced the edge and Adam Lyth took a smart catch high to his right.

The rain came at 33-2 and on the resumption to Pyrah's second ball Vikram Solanki (on 18) edged to Gary Ballance at 2nd slip only to see the chance spilled. Three balls later Solanki pushed forward tamely and this time the chance was held by newly capped Jonny Bairstow. Moeen Ali then edged Shahzad to 2nd slip and was on his way for 4. Worcestershire were struggling at 33-4.

Ajmal Shahzad bowled with pace and accuracy for 23 balls without conceeding before Keervezee pushed through mid-wicket for a single. At the other end Pyrah was bowling straight and getting late movement and that did for Alexei Kervezee who was trapped in front for 7 and Worcestershire were 41-5.

Gary Ballance was not having a good day in the field. He'd dropped two chances at 2nd Slip before pouching James Cameron off the returning Sidebottom for 10. One of the drops had been Gareth Andrew when on 8 and the man with the Mongoose bat was determined to make the Tykes pay after Worcestershire lunched at 60-6.

62-6 post the resumption after 29 overs soon became 105-6 3 overs later with Bresnan particularly expensive – his 4 overs after lunch costing 37 runs.

Andrew was dropped again when on 39 to Adil Rashid’s left at 3rd slip off an impressive Ajmal Shahzad who has found a more consistent line and length through the t20 series. The lapse did not prove costly as Andrew drove Sidebottom low and hard to McGrath’s left at mid-on. The senior man of the Yorkshire side took an excellent catch and the senior bowler had his third scalp. Andrew and Ben Scott had added 55 in 11 overs as Worcestershire, who are also fighting for their Division One lives showed the fighting spirit that has seen them win two matches in recent weeks.

The score became 152-8 when Saeed Ajmal was caught by Rashid off Bresnan for 26 as he tried to flip a short ball over the cordon. The 3,000 crowd then saw the Pears crumble as they lost their last two wickets to Bresnan with the score on 168. Jack Shantry was caught by Ballance at 2nd slip for 6 and Alan Richardson was caught behind by Bairstow without scoring.

Yorkshire had 40 overs to bat and Joe Root was unlucky to be run out at the non-striker’s end without facing when Richardson nudged a Lyth straight drive onto the stumps. Lyth himself edged Shantry behind for 9 and Yorkshire, at 15-2, were in danger of blowing a good day’s work.

Anthony McGrath was yet to pass fifty this summer after injuries plagued his early season, but he built on a big century for the 2nd Team last week with good foot movement and, despite a slow start, good attacking shots at anything remotely loose. McGrath could yet prove a vital cog in the relegation avoidance machine and alongside Gale he excelled on a ground he’s always enjoyed.

Gale is always at his best when a fight is on the cards and he went to fifty from 51 balls with 10 fours with four consecutive boundaries of Saeed Ajmal. He then hit the next ball for 4 too for good measure, but couldn’t despatch the sixth delivery. The pair had added 92 when Richardson produced one that kept low and McGrath was lbw for 39.

The score had advanced to 132 when Bairstow play across a quicker delivery from Saeed Ajmal and went for 11 and then Richard Pyrah was called through for a run by Gale and a mix-up in the middle led to the all-rounder sacrificing himself. Yorkshire were 133-5.

Gary Ballance and Gale ensured there were no further mishaps as Yorkshire closed on 135-5. They trail by 33 runs with 5 wickets remaining.

JAMES BUTTLER in SCARBOROUGH 

MATCH PREVIEW

After the thrills and spills of yesterday's t20 at Scarborough, the famous North Marine Road plays host to a crucuial Championship relegation contest between Yorkshire and Worcestershire over the next 4 days.

Yorkshire welcome back Anthony McGrath who has started to find form in the 2nd Team and Joe Sayers misses out. Tim Bresnan returns after playing for England against Sri Lanka in the recent One-Day International series.

YORKSHIRE TEAM (from)

Adam LYTH, Joe ROOT, Anthony McGRATH, Andrew GALE, Jonny BAIRSTOW, Gary BALLANCE, Adil RASHID, Tim BRESNAN, Ajmal SHAHZAD, Ryan SIDEBOTTOM, Iain WARDLAW, David WAINWRIGHT.

Yorkshire currently sit in 8th place of the 9 teams in Division 1 and are 5 points behind 7th place Worcestershire who have a game in hand. Yorkshire have 7 games, including this one, to revive their season.

The action commences at 11am on each day.