Yorkshire claim bonus points

Yorkshire hauled themselves out of the LV County Championship Division One relegation zone with a maximum-points draw against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

The White Rose county gave their Roses rivals a major scare this afternoon by reducing them to 29 for three as they aimed to bat out a minimum of 51 overs for a much-needed draw of their own.

Lancashire finished on 104 for three when bad light stopped play with 16 overs left in the day’s allocation. Yorkshire claimed 12 points and are now five clear of Hampshire who drop back into the relegation zone.

Yorkshire declared their first innings at 400 for six to ensure they bagged the five batting bonus points. Andrew Gale completed a fine 136 and Jacques Rudolph also hit 54.

When captain Darren Gough called his batsmen in just after lunch Tim Bresnan was unbeaten on 47 from 79 balls.

It was always going to be a long shot for Yorkshire to claim a third win of the campaign due to the lack of time they left themselves to take 10 wickets.

But they gave it a spirited shot, and Lancashire a nervy afternoon, as Matthew Hoggard removed Iain Sutcliffe for four.

Jacques Rudolph racked up 54 as Yorkshire batted their way to maximum bonus points

Gough out-thought his opposite number Stuart Law with some innovative leg-side field placing, two men under the helmet on the leg-side and two more at short midwicket and short mid-on.

Law proceeded to top-edge a ball from Bresnan and Gough completed the formalities at short mid-on to leave Lancashire reeling at 23 for two.

And then first-innings tormentor-in-chief Adil Rashid, the 20 year-old leg-spinner, got in on the act when he bowled Francois du Plessis to leave the total at 29 for three.

Lancashire opener Paul Horton has been his side’s best batsman this year and he passed 50 for the eighth time in championship cricket this season.

The 25-year-old reached his milestone off 83 balls with seven fours and shared an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 75 with overseas player Lou Vincent (13). Horton finished on 69 not out.

Despite being second-best in this clash Lancashire actually closed in on leaders Nottinghamshire. They are 14 points behind with a game in hand. They are 13 behind second-placed Durham, who also have a game in hand on Notts.

Earlier Gale was helped along by 54 from left-hander Rudolph. Rudolph hit seven boundaries in a third-wicket stand of 87.

Lancashire’s South African Kolpak player Du Plessis claimed two more wickets to finish with figures of 3-61 from 21 overs. The 24-year-old was also involved in the run-out of Adam Lyth.

Yorkshire declared shortly after lunch but would have been better pressing their foot down on the accelerator a little bit sooner so they could have declared before the break.