Late wickets boost Middlesex at Yorkshire
Close, day one: Yorkshire 211-6 v Middlesex
Middlesex took three wickets in the last half hour of a rain-affected first day at Scarborough to put themselves in a strong position against Yorkshire.
The home side had looked in control thanks to Adam Lyth’s brilliant century, the opener passing 1,000 runs for the season as his side reached 204-3.
But Middlesex hit back superbly, with the returning Tom Helm removing England’s Johnny Bairstow and Toby Roland-Jones bowling James Leaning.
Helm then ended Lyth’s day-long vigil as Yorkshire slipped to 211-6 when bad light brought play to a halt.
The late burst of wickets will come as a massive boost to Middlesex, as they chase victory that would narrow the gap to third-place Yorkshire and Division One leaders Nottinghamshire.
After winning the toss and electing to field, Chris Rogers’ side had to wait until the 21st over to make the breakthrough, Alex Lees caught behind off Roland-Jones.
Rain forced an early lunch, with Yorkshire on 66-1, but Steven Finn struck the second blow as he bowled Kane Williamson for 14.
Yorkshire added a further 22 and were on 114-2 before heavy rain curtailed the afternoon’s play early.
The interruptions failed to break the concentration of Lyth, who was on the verge of a century when Andrew Gale (30) offered up a catch off Finn, ending a stand of 85.
Lyth ploughed on, making the 113 he needed to become the first top-flight Championship batsman to reach 1,000 runs for the year.
The hosts pulled up the drawbridge late in the day, Bairstow taking 42 deliveries to make five before he was bowled by Helm, in only his second first-class game for the club.
Yorkshire’s reticence proved costly as Roland-Jones bowled Leaning, and Helm – who has just come back from a loan spell with Glamorgan and last played Championship cricket for Middlesex against Yorkshire last September – had Lyth caught for 117.
Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook
