Sussex denied thrilling win

Michael Yardy's 110 gave Sussex hope of victory but Yorkshire hit back at Headingley

A bold declaration by Yorkshire produced a thrilling climax to their LV= County Championship match against Sussex at Headingley Carnegie but the game still ended in a draw.

In a positive move to get their first win of the season - Sussex also remain winless - Yorkshire declared on 272 for seven which left their visitors needing 281 for victory off a generous 71 overs.

They appeared to be cruising as opener Michael Yardy built a gritty century but when he departed for 110 off 162 balls, with 12 fours, the game swung Yorkshire’s way and at 252 for eight Sussex were left needing 29 off as many balls.

The chase was called off and Ollie Rayner and Cory Collymore held out against the pace of former team-mate Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and the left-arm spin of David Wainwright - finishing on 257 for eight with the sides taking eight points apiece from the game.

Although Sussex looked the likely winners for much of the time, Yorkshire could have clinched it in the end if they had not put down four fairly sharp catches.

Much of the action was missed by Michael Vaughan because the former England captain had to leave the field with soreness in his troublesome right knee.

Vaughan underwent ice-pack treatment and as a precaution is expected to miss Yorkshire’s championship match against Somerset which begins at Headingley on Thursday.

He will do knee strengthening work with Yorkshire physiotherapist, Scott McAllister.

Yardy and Michael Thornely safely negotiated the three overs in which Sussex had to bat before lunch.

Before that, Yardy was put down low at gully by Azeem Rafiq off Tim Bresnan and the escape helped the openers take the score to 84 in 24 overs before Thornely offered no stroke against Naved and had his off-stump uprooted.

Yorkshire captain Anthony McGrath hit 56 as his side set Sussex an inviting total of 281

Ed Joyce, a centurion in the first innings, hurried to 24 and was then pushed back on his stumps and lbw to Rafiq.

Yardy reached his century from 144 balls with 12 fours but he lost Murray Goodwin when he swept Rafiq to Bresnan at backward short leg, and soon afterwards Yardy lobbed Wainwright to Joe Sayers at short extra cover.

The left-arm spinner bowled Andy Hodd round his legs to leave Sussex on 211 for five and they were in more trouble when Dwayne Smith was yorked by Naved.

Yorkshire scented victory when Robin Martin-Jenkins was bowled by Wainwright and off the next ball Matt Prior was brilliantly run out by Naved who dashed down the pitch and disturbed the stumps with the batsman stranded as he attempted to regain his crease.

Earlier, Yorkshire suffered an early setback when they resumed their second innings on the final morning on 152 for two and Jacques Rudolph was unable to convert his overnight 86 into a century.

Having added just three, the South African played Collymore into his stumps.

Gale was out when he sent a steepling catch to Smith who waited patiently underneath it at cover.

A switch in the action saw Yardy come on and capture three wickets with his first eight balls, and Yorkshire called a halt soon afterwards.

Rana fell to his first delivery, caught round the corner by Rayner, and two balls later McGrath belted a high catch to Goodwin at midwicket for 58 from 69 balls.

Yardy’s third wicket came from a full toss which Bresnan slapped straight to Thornely on the midwicket fence.