Wainwright bails out Yorkshire

Sreesanth was a far cry from the fearsome proposition he was on Thursday, but he still sealed a five-for

A courageous 102 not out from David Wainwright dragged Yorkshire right back into their LV= County Championship Division One clash with Warwickshire on day three after they had looked to be heading to defeat at Scarborough.

Wainwright, batting at number nine, produced a brave innings and the in-form Gerard Brophy hit 85 to help Yorkshire recover from their overnight 100 for seven to reach 328 all out.

That recovery brought them an unexpected three batting bonus points and a first-innings lead of eight runs.

Ian Westwood then weighed in with 58 not out as Warwickshire closed on 111 for two, with a draw the most likely result for the two relegation-threatened sides going to day four.

It was the second first-class century of 24-year-old Wainwright's career, the first one coming almost a year ago when he made an unbeaten 104 batting at number 10 against Sussex at Hove to save Yorkshire from relegation.

Sreesanth, who had grabbed four wickets on the second evening, was much less effective when play began and both Brophy, 27 overnight, and Wainwright made rapid progress with a flurry of boundaries off the India paceman.

He conceded 33 runs, including seven fours, in just three overs before being replaced by Neil Carter, but Brophy moved smartly to his fifty off 77 balls with eight fours to notch his third consecutive championship half-century.

A familiar figure took the field for a while when former South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald, Warwickshire's bowling coach, came on as a substitute, but his presence did little to stop the runs as the follow-on was avoided and Yorkshire claimed their first batting bonus point at 201 for seven.

Left-arm spinner Ant Botha joined the attack, but Wainwright punished him with consecutive boundaries to register his own fifty off 69 deliveries with nine fours, and by lunch the stand was worth 140 with Yorkshire having recovered to 239 for seven.

Brophy, dismissed for 99 in his previous innings in the Roses match, was denied a century again after the stand had reached 144 in 35 overs.

Ian Westwood found much-needed form with 58 by the close as Warwickshire battled to stay afloat

He propped half forward at Botha and was taken at slip by Rikki Clarke for 85 off 162 balls with 11 boundaries.

Wainwright now found a reliable partner in Matthew Hoggard who played some fine strokes of his own in another flourishing stand, this time of 58.

A feature of Wainwright's innings was his delicate strokeplay and deft timing, whether stroking boundaries or taking singles, but when he was on 95 he lost Hoggard who gloved a legside catch to Ambrose for 18.

At 291 for nine last man Deon Kruis had both Wainwright's century and a third batting bonus point to consider, and it was Kruis who dashed a single to raise the 300 shortly before Sreesanth returned to the attack.

Wainwright turned him on the leg-side to make it into three figures off 147 balls with 14 fours.

Wainwright received a standing ovation from the North Marine Road crowd and runs continued to flow as Kruis suddenly launched a late assault, driving Naqaash Tahir back through his hands for four and planting him over mid-wicket for six.

But in attempting a big legside hit off Sreesanth he spiralled the ball into the air and fell to a superbly-judged overhead catch by Ambrose to give Sreesanth final figures of 5-93.

Warwickshire openers Westwood and Botha put on 16 when rain brought forward the tea interval and on the resumption Westwood edged Hoggard's first ball straight into and out of Brophy's gloves.

Both batsmen then made untroubled progress to 96 when skipper Anthony McGrath bowled Botha a long hop which he cut straight to Richard Pyrah at point.

In the next over Ajmal Shahzad bowled nightwatchman Tahir offering no stroke.