Joe Root falls just short of century to keep Glamorgan at bay

JOE Root was dismissed for 99 as he gave Yorkshire a first-innings lead on day three of their LV= Insurance County Championship match at Glamorgan.

The England captain’s effort gave Yorkshire a chance to push for victory as he and Steven Patterson blunted the Glamorgan attack on a pitch that, Root aside, has been hard work for batsmen.

Glamorgan had bowled well before the Root and Patterson partnership, with Michael Neser claiming a five-wicket haul on his home debut.

When Glamorgan came out to bat for their second innings they lost three quick wickets before David Lloyd and Kiran Carlson took them to 108 for three at the close, a lead of 27.

As his colleagues fell, Root stood firm, riding the bounce when needed to work the ball both sides of the wicket in a masterly display on a challenging surface.

There was a point when it looked as if Glamorgan could eke out a lead as Yorkshire went from 78 for four to 91 for seven, but Root made sure that did not happen.

That cluster of wickets included debutant Harry Duke getting out to his first ball in first-class cricket, the 19-year-old wicketkeeper attempting a pull shot and getting caught at square leg.

The lead was 81 when the last

Yorkshire wicket fell, which could well prove decisive on this pitch.

Root missed out on what would have been his 32nd first-class hundred when he was bowled by Dan Douthwaite.

It was the first time Root has been dismissed on 99 in his professional career.

It looked as if Yorkshire could take a complete stranglehold on the match, but Carlson and Lloyd kept Glamorgan in the hunt.