Bairstow's Century Helps Produce Victory

Reigning champions Yorkshire took the leaders Middlesex down a peg or two, overtaking them in the process, as they limped to a narrow four-wicket win in a low-scoring contest. Durham now move to the top of the charts but have two matches to negotiate against the Tykes, both of which could have a big say in determining who finishes top of the English tree at the end of September.

One area of concern, which Yorkshire are less blameworthy of than most, is that the current round of County Championship featured a welter of wickets and lots of early finishes, including this one. The concern that was expressed by Alec Stewart and Jonathan Trott on the radio is that too many counties are again resorting to doctoring their pitches to ensure that their team has a big chance of bowling the opposition out twice and winning a match. While the clueless ECB, which clearly has more brains than sense, persists with an over-valued sixteen points for a win, then sub-standard pitches will be produced, and such a scenario does not lend itself to the development of our young talent at county level. Teams should be rewarded in their second innings as they are in the first innings, but regrettably no bonus points exist in the second innings. Instead the winner-takes-all policy of sixteen points for the victor and nothing for the vanquished is a bit harsh, especially when the margin of victory, as here at Headingley, was not a huge one. Were Yorkshire sixteen points better than Middlesex? Of course not.

YORKSHIRE versus Middlesex; at Leeds; Sunday the 7th to Tuesday the 9th of June 2015. Middlesex won the toss.

Middlesex first innings: 212 (Compton 70; Brooks 5-44, Maxwell 3-55)

YORKSHIRE first innings: 229 (Bairstow 125*; Roland-Jones 4-78, Murtagh 3-62)

Middlesex second innings: 229 (Franklin 55*; Rhodes 3-42)

YORKSHIRE second innings: 215 for six (Lyth 67)

YORKSHIRE won by four wickets. YORKSHIRE 20 points, Middlesex 4 points.

Lyth - Adam contributed eighty-four runs in a low-scoring contest and chipped in with a brilliant catch and he even took one wicket for 21 from ten overs.

Lees - Scores of eleven and ten are simply inadequate from Alex. His early season form appears to have deserted him. He needs to arrest the decline - and fast.

Ballance - One run in the first innings and 29 in the second are scarcely compelling evidence that Ballance has found his feet again. He did at least take 3 catches.

Gale - He made an adequate contribution of 37 in the runs chase, which atoned for a below par first innings of eighteen. He needs to do much more than this. 

Bairstow - His unbeaten ton suggests that he is in better form than ever before. However, England's selectors were actually very patient with him before.

Leaning - Jack twice reached twenty runs, but twice failed to reach thirty. He has batted really well in recent matches, but this was not one of his better efforts.

Maxwell - His 15 overs cost 74 runs and he was dismissed again for a duck. Glenn has been a shocking misfit at Yorkshire. Aaron Finch can't return quick enough.

Rhodes - An innings of eleven was not good enough and his bowling was expensive in each innings too. However, he rescued himself by taking the final 3 wickets.

Bresnan - Tim failed with the bat this time, scoring only four, but he bowled quite well, taking two wickets at a cost of eighty-seven runs, from thirty-two overs.

Patterson - Four wickets at a cost of 75 runs from forty-two overs was another remarkable return for Yorkshire's unsung hero. He also made some useful runs.

Brooks - JB dismissed Burns and Compton twice, bowling very well in the first innings. He also helped Bairstow reach his ton by sticking around in their 59-stand.

DIVISION ONE TABLE:

Durham 109 points from seven matches

YORKSHIRE 98 points from six matches

Middlesex 98 points from seven matches

Sussex 80 points from seven matches

Warwickshire 80 points from six matches

Hampshire 69 points from seven matches

Nottinghamshire 61 points from six matches

Worcestershire 58 points from six matches

Somerset 56 points from six matches