Yorkshire’s grit edges Dizzy to farewell crown
Middlesex 270 & 81-2, Yorkshire 390 - Stumps, Day Three
YORKSHIRE’S resolve is famed. But seldom has it been more in evident than at Lord’s.
This was the scene. Yorkshire were 53-4, trailing Middlesex by 217 runs and needing another 297 to get the third batting point they required to maintain their Championship hopes. What’s more, they had to do it all without Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root, made unavailable by England.
At No.5 strode out the unfamiliar figure of Tim Bresnan. If it seemed a little high, Bresnan proceeded to play perhaps the finest innings of his career. When he was done, he had dragged Yorkshire, seemingly through sheer force of will, into the lead and over 350, a position from which they will expect to secure the County Championship at Lord’s for the second season in a row.
It was excruciating and agonising: no reflection on Bresnan, but of the enormity of the situation Yorkshire faced. When Jack Brooks was dismissed, Yorkshire were 334-9, still 16 runs short of that crucial point.
It took Bresnan and Ryan Sidebottom, defending like a man who knew that the very pride of Yorkshire depended upon it, 76 balls to reach the mark. Along the way the crowd of nearly 5,000 were gripped, every forward defensive or leave from Sidebottom was cheered by a hearty Yorkshire contingent. He survived several tight lbw appeals, including one from Tony Roland-Jones which looked as if it was knocking out middle stump with the score on 349. Only it turned out that Sidebottom had got an tiny inside edge.
To add to the theatre, rain and bad light then came. For 40 minutes or so, Yorkshire stewed on 349, knowing what was required. When they returned, Bresnan played out a maiden from Ollie Rayner before Sidebottom worked Toby Roland-Jones to fine leg, punching the air in delight. The huge cheers from the Yorkshire balcony spoke of awareness of the enormity of the moment.
This was not merely a bonus point; this was the County Championship, or so it must have felt.
That last-wicket partnership eventually put on 56 to give Yorkshire a lead of 120. Today, they will have the chance to secure their third straight crown, ensuring that Jason Gillespie leaves with a performance befitting his wonderful stint at the club.
Middlesex, the only unbeaten side in the land, were already facing having to contrive a finish in pursuit of the victory required to secure their first title since 1993 when they lost both Sam Robson and Nick Compton in the first four overs of their second innings.
Another pulsating day lies in wait, and a tormenting one for all Somerset fans. That Yorkshire find themselves in this position owes not just to Bresnan’s resolve, and the panache of Azeem Rafiq, with whom he put on a crucial 114 for the seventh wicket, but also to dropped catches. Andrew Hodd was put down early in his century stand with Bresnan for the fifth wicket.
Rafiq was put down twice on the third morning, before the second new ball. Had any of these catches been taken, Yorkshire’s title hopes would surely been extinguished.
Still, Middlesex could reflect on a fortunate dropped catch of their own. Nick Gubbins had only 22 when spilled on the first morning. He went on to make a high-class 125 to underpin Middlesex’s 270.
He said: “You can score all the runs you want on a featherbed at Lord’s when the sun’s out, but it means more when the conditions are tougher and when it matters.”
Middlesex will not be happy with their total, especially with Yorkshire having the look of a long tail. But looks can be very deceptive.
Yorkshire, again, have shown the fortitude of champions, whatever happens on the final day.