Yorkshire battle back

Gerard Brophy's unbeaten 75 helped his side to recover from 110 for seven to post 225

Buy this photo

Yorkshire fought hard to claw their way back into the game at Headingley Carnegie after being bowled out for 225 and they had Sussex on 78 for three at the close of the second day of the LV= Championship Division One match.

Although Yorkshire were disappointed at mustering just one batting bonus point after winning the toss their situation would have been much worse but for a spirited unbeaten 75 from wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy.

On a pitch of variable bounce, Yorkshire were soon among the wickets as both Sussex openers departed for eight, Mike Yardy being lbw to Deon Kruis and Michael Thornely also being trapped in front of his stumps by former Sussex and Pakistan paceman Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

Murray Goodwin joined Ed Joyce but, in an inspired bowling change, Anthony McGrath brought himself on and Goodwin attempted a forcing shot but got an edge and Joe Sayers flung up his arms to take a two-handed catch high above his head at first slip.

It was Yorkshire’s final success of the day because Joyce and Matt Prior batted out the remaining 11 overs, Joyce finishing on 38 and Prior 18.

After the weather-hit first day, Yorkshire resumed on 58 for two in 31 overs in dry but cool and blustery conditions and they lost McGrath before a run had been added to the score.

He edged Cory Collymore low to first slip where he was well caught by Ollie Rayner, the same combination having also got rid of both Jacques Rudolph and Michael Vaughan.

Opener Sayers continued to take care but fellow left-hander Andrew Gale clipped Collymore through square leg for four before getting out in disappointing fashion to Jason Lewry by playing across the line and giving a simple catch to Robin Martin-Jenkins at mid-on.

Sayers, having survived for 134 balls while compiling 29, was fifth out at 95, his leg-stump being struck by Martin-Jenkins as he shaped to play through midwicket, but Yorkshire’s sorry performance during the morning session was still not at an end.

Sussex captain Ed Joyce led from the front as he finished on 38 not out in a total of 78

Tim Bresnan pushed forward at Martin-Jenkins and nicked the ball to wicketkeeper Andy Hodd and Naved fell lbw to the same bowler, leaving Yorkshire tottering on 110 for seven.

But Brophy, coming in at the fall of the fourth wicket, was proving to be in the same fine form with the bat that he showed before being sidelined for four weeks with an injured right thumb.

Brophy found a found a reliable partner in David Wainwright who was having his first Championship knock since helping to save Yorkshire from relegation with a maiden century against Sussex at Hove in the final match of last season.

Brophy completed a deserved half-century off 92 balls with six fours and Sussex took the new ball as soon as it became due at 172 for seven in 80 overs.

Wainwright bisected first slip and wicketkeeper to get a lucky four off Lewry but in the same over that he dispatched Collymore for two boundaries he hooked the West Indian straight into the waiting hands of Martin-Jenkins at long leg and was out for 36.

Wainwright’s eighth wicket stand with Brophy was worth 96 in 26 overs and took Yorkshire to a solitary batting bonus point.

Championship debutant Azeem Rafiq showed plenty of confidence at the crease until edging Dwayne Smith to first slip where Rayner held his fourth catch, and two balls later Kruis was snapped up at second slip by Joyce, leaving Brophy unbeaten on 75.

Collymore stood out as the pick of the Sussex bowlers with four for 68 and he was well supported by Martin-Jenkins whose three consecutive wickets in the morning helped earn him figures of 3-38.