Lees answers the opening question
YORKSHIRE and Nottinghamshire fought out a thrilling fi nal day at Trent Bridge in a match that saw the reigning champions hang on for a draw in the last over of the day.
A match that had looked to be meandering towards stalemate was set alight when Yorkshire’s Alex Lees and Joe Root ignited an unlikely chase with 180 needed from 20 overs.
But while runs fl owed for the White Rose – going from 64- 1 at tea to needing just 93 from 10 overs – the wickets tumbled as well.
The possible, when Jonny Bairstow and Lees, right, were going strong for the fi fth wicket, turned into a scramble for survival as a steady collapse saw Yorkshire cling on at the death, Jack Brooks holding out against Stuart Broad for the fi nal two balls.
A share of the spoils for both sides was almost certainly fair in a match that was a fi ne advert for the County Championship and in which several players did their hopes of
international recognition no harm. The recently retired James Taylor was able to joke that it was not good for his recovering heart, tweeting that he was “going to have to get out of Trent Bridge” as the game went to the wire. More seriously, Lees embellished his credentials as the opener England are waiting for with a brilliant 107 to go with his 92 in the fi rst innings. And for Nottinghamshire, Jake Ball bowled his way closer to a call- up with 3- 68 yesterday to go with his 4- 57 in Yorkshire’s fi rst innings. The result left the White Rose still looking for their fi rst win after three attempts as they challenge for an elusive three consecutive titles. Nottinghamshire lead Division One, with all nine teams covered by just nine points . Kent were the only team in two divisions to emerge with a win – by 10 wickets over Glamorgan. didn’t expect to be 2- 0 down and then 3- 1 after half- time. It was a historic game for us, for me and the fans. We showed our character and that we will never stop believing until the last minute. It is something I will remember for all my lifetime.
“But we don’t want to repeat this game. We want to win smoothly. We will be smarter than the last time. It will be a great season if we can go to the fi nal and win it. It will be a dream come true for me and I believe we can get to the fi nal.”
Manager Jurgen Klopp will fi nalise his team selection this morning with Daniel Sturridge under consideration for a starting role ahead of Christian Benteke. “I have to think about everything and in all these thoughts Daniel Sturridge is 100 per cent involved,” he said.