Ballance of power is firmly on Yorkshire’s side

GARY Ballance, Ben Coad and Jack Leaning contributed significantly with bat, ball and in the field for Yorkshire as they moved towards a Specsavers County Championship victory over Nottinghamshire on day two at Emerald Headingley.

Coad claimed three morning wickets as Notts, replying to a first-innings 256, slipped from 53 for four overnight to 188 all out, and he finished with four for 49 from 13.2 overs.

Captain Ballance then posted a typically determined half-century either side of tea to hold the White Rose second innings together after they had fallen to 37 for three, leading by 105.

As Yorkshire closed on 189 for four from 68 overs, leading by 257, Ballance finished with 76 not out off 151 balls.

He was partnered by Leaning, whose unbeaten 37 followed three catches taken at third slip before lunch.

Notts started day two in positive fashion, advancing to 100 for four as New Zealand overseas batsman Ross Taylor hit 10 boundaries in 57.

But he was the first of four quick wickets shared equally between Coad and Tim Bresnan as they slipped to 130 for eight, with some superb slip catching also contributing.

Added to Leaning’s trio, Adam Lyth took a one-handed stunner diving to his right at second to help Bresnan remove Luke Wood.

At that stage, a three-figure plus lead was in the offing for Yorkshire.

However, Jake Ball had other ideas as he hit four successive fours off Jack Brooks and finished unbeaten on 44.

Luke Fletcher was run out and Harry Gurney miscued Coad to cover to wrap up the innings. Wickets continued to Ben Coad of Yorkshire celebrates with team-mates after dismissing Jake Libby of Nottinghamshire during the Specsavers County Championship Division One at Headingley

tumble after lunch when Yorkshire batted again, with seam and swing still aiding the quicks.

Alex Lees was trapped lbw offering no shot to Ball before Cheteshwar Pujara was run out at the non-striker’s end having hurtled down the pitch looking for a quick single with striker Lyth, who was then caught behind down leg

pulling at Wood.

From there, Ballance steered the ship with few alarms, aside from being hit on the wrist by a Ball bouncer whilst on 48.

He shared 58 for the fourth wicket with Harry Brooks (36), who looked good again before losing his middle stump to Ball and 94 unbroken for the fifth with Leaning. That partnership was the

highest of the match so far, beating the fifth-wicket 61 shared between Taylor and Riki Wessels for Notts.

By the time Ballance reached his 50, off 90 balls with a cut boundary off Gurney, Yorkshire’s lead was just beyond 200.

And he and Leaning continued to deny a tiring attack, batting unbroken through the evening session.