Defiant Durham Hold On

For the second time this year, Yorkshire dominated a four-day contest with their northern rivals of Durham but were again unable to land the knockout punch, as plucky Durham held out for a morale-boosting draw, after they had been on the ropes, having been required to follow on.

Nevertheless, I think that it would be a tad melodramatic to suggest that this will feel like a defeat for the hosts. Far from it. Instead, the Tykes can draw much satisfaction from the proceedings, after having lost the toss. With the red-hot combination of Lees and Lyth thrashing the Durham attack to all parts of the Headingley ground and then our last pair lifting Yorkshire's total past the maximum points threshold of four hundred runs, with a ball to spare, the home county were firmly in the ascendancy. Then when the reigning champions replied, the white rose did exceptionally well to enforce the follow on. However, the team from the north east had the last laugh as they produced a characteristically excellent rearguard display on the final day to narrowly avoid defeat. Although Yorkshire will be frustrated at their second failure this year to bowl Durham out twice, they can take great comfort from the fact that their commendable exploits have earned them a five-point lead at the top of the tree, with only five matches remaining. Admittedly there are still about eight teams who could win the County Championship, but Yorkshire are in pole position and will relish the forthcoming challenge of Middlesex at Scarborough, in just over a week. Middlesex are realistic title contenders, so if the east coast weather is agreeable, then a humdinger could be in the offing at the seaside. The Tykes will probably be boosted by the return to their ranks of in-form Kane Williamson who has enjoyed a particularly fruitful test series in the West Indies.

YORKSHIRE versus Durham; at Leeds; 7th-10th July. Durham won the toss.

YORKSHIRE first innings: 426 (Lyth 143, Lees 108; Wood 5-87)

Durham first innings: 231 (Collingwood 64*, Jennings 56; Rashid 4-73)

Durham second innings: 323 for eight (Richardson 95, Stoneman 86, Mustard 57*; Brooks 4-66)

Match drawn. YORKSHIRE 13 points, Durham 9 points.

Lyth - Undoubtedly Yorkshire's man of the match, he not only amassed a big ton, but Adam then took two wickets in the second innings at a cost of only eighteen runs.

Lees - Alex certainly earned his wages with another fine century, even if he was given a life when on 91. Surely an England test career beckons for our latest prodigy.

Leaning - Perhaps he was on a hiding to nothing, coming out to bat after a 270 partnership, but Jack's pitiful four runs was a poor return for a number three batsman.

Gale - Losing the toss again is maybe just bad luck, but yet another low score is far less excusable.

Bairstow - JB was made to look silly when offering no shot off his second ball and was promptly dismissed for a duck egg.

Finch - Aaron weighed in with a useful 36 runs at a time when the three batsmen above him in the batting order had capitulated.

Rashid - The runs have dried up for him now, but he redeemed himself with six wickets. His second innings bowling was much more economical but also less potent.

Bresnan - Tim bowled 36 tidy overs that merely cost 88 runs whilst taking two wickets, which atoned for his first-day failure with the bat.

Patterson - His first innings bowling yielded two wickets for 27 runs from twenty overs, but unfortunately he failed to hit such heights the second time around.

Sidebottom - He contributed 25 important runs and then bowled very well in the Durham first innings. However Ryan ran out of gas (or ideas) on the final day.

Brooks - Jack experienced a mixed bag in this contest, starting with an unbeaten 27, followed by untidy bowling, and then an improved effort in the second innings.