Adam lethal Lyth

By Gary Watton
September 1 2014

On a truly pivotal third day of September, a plucky Nottinghamshire rearguard narrowly failed to overcome relegation-threatened Durham, while further west, league leaders Yorkshire secured a massively significant innings triumph against the old enemy of Lancashire. In so doing, the Tykes have placed a considerable amount of daylight (26 precious points to be precise) between them and their challengers from Nottinghamshire.

As a consequence, Yorkshire go into the penultimate engagement next Tuesday at Trent Bridge, knowing that if they avoid defeat, the County Championship will probably be won, while an away win will confirm the white rose as champions. Even if Yorkshire lose at Trent Bridge, a home win in their final match against Somerset would probably still seal a Championship triumph. With the in-form England duo of Ballance and Plunkett available for selection next Tuesday, to state that the Tykes are in a healthy position would be an understatement. Nottinghamshire will not publicly concede defeat, but they know that they almost need snookers now.

Whatever happens in the next week and beyond, I would state that this is the best team that Yorkshire have produced since as far back as the late 'sixties, even acknowledging the successful vintage of 2001. Speaking of the Championship-winning year of 2001, that was the last time that Yorkshire crushed Lancashire by an innings, and so this new innings demolition represents a good omen for the white rose county.

Back in 2001, Darren Lehmann recorded a landmark 252, and lo and behold Adam Lyth all but emulated the Aussie's heroics by posting a stunning career-best effort of 251. If this latest command performance from prolific Lyth doesn't entitle him to a place in England's next test tour in the spring, then the foolish national selectors need their few remaining brain cells examined.

Not to be outdone by the Lyth bonanza, Adil Rashid reminded us all that he is easily the best number seven batsman in England as he also proceeded to a career-best total. In fact, to rub salt in the wounds of struggling Lancashire, the England hopefuls of Lyth and Rashid contributed a county record seventh-wicket stand of 296, which exceeded the home team's first innings amount. To be fair to the hosts, their performance was not as dire as an innings defeat might suggest. It was just their misfortune to encounter a high-flying Yorkshire team that produced cricket of the highest quality. After all, such is the milestone of this skirmish that Adam Lyth succeeded in compiling the largest-ever innings in a Roses match in Lancashire in the long history of the County Championship. Now that is something worth writing home about!

Lancashire versus YORKSHIRE; at Manchester; 31st August-3rd September. Lancashire won the toss.

Lancashire first innings: 278 (Smith 57, Prince 53, Reece 53; Sidebottom 3-42, Brooks 3-64, Rashid 3-77)

YORKSHIRE first innings: 610 for six declared (Lyth 251, Rashid 159*, Bairstow 60; Parry 3-109)

Lancashire second innings: 314 (Khawaja 117; Rashid 5-117, Brooks 3-61)

YORKSHIRE won by an innings and 18 runs. Lancashire 3 points, YORKSHIRE 23 points.

Lyth - Fittingly, he took the last wicket that clinched the win. The case for Lyth opening the batting for England is now unstoppable. He can even catch and bowl too!

Lees - His innings of forty contributed to a fine opening stand of seventy-two, but his admirable efforts were completely dwarfed by those of his partner.

Williamson - Typically Kane made a solid start, but he failed to build upon the foundations that he had laid. Forty-six runs were useful, no more, no less.

Gale - He lost the toss and again imperilled his team's cause with a totally inadequate six runs. Maybe his two-match suspension is a blessing.

Bairstow - Jonny was in fine fettle, taking seven catches and stumpings in addition to a characteristically show-stopping innings of sixty.

Leaning - With Ballance and Root due to return, Jack needed a big innings, but instead he could only provide one run and one catch.

Rashid - His bowling completely eclipsed the efforts of Kerrigan. Adil must be back on the radar for England as a genuine all-rounder in both one-day and test cricket.

Pyrah - Despite a quick-fire unbeaten 21, his efforts were largely undistinguished, taking one wicket from his seventeen overs, at a cost of fifty-nine runs.

Patterson - Steve took no wickets and no catches and wasn't required to bat. His twenty-two overs cost 63 runs. On this occasion, SP was something of a spectator.

Sidebottom - His two wickets in the match's first over were huge. Yet again Ryan was at the forefront of Yorkshire's bowling. His 31 overs only cost eighty-four runs.

Brooks - His wickets tally has now risen to an outstanding 58. Perhaps the fact that he is a bit expensive may stop any possible upgrade to the England test team.