Lethal Westwood

By Gary Watton
April 28 2015

Warwickshire's left-handed opening batsman, Ian Westwood, produced a man of the match effort, including a career best of 196, in the first innings, before falling narrowly short of another century in the second innings. However, his batting heroics were somewhat in vain, as a resolute Yorkshire team held on comfortably on the final afternoon to preserve their long unbeaten run in first-class cricket. Jeetan Patel threatened briefly with three wickets, but a good, unbroken stand from Hodd and Leaning saw Yorkshire emerge unscathed from this tough examination.

Admittedly Warwickshire were missing both Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott, but the Tykes can breathe a heavy sigh of relief that they have escaped from their opening three fixtures without a defeat, when half their first team are in the Caribbean. Fortunately, some of our troops should be back in our ranks for the next round of County Championship matches. We can expect to see at least Bairstow, Lyth, Plunkett, and Rashid back in first-team action, unless the powers that be decree that some of them sit out Yorkshire's next match at home to Hampshire, but surely this quartet desperately need some cricket as soon as possible, after enduring a frustrating April.

It is still possible that Plunkett or Rashid will play in England's third test in Barbados while even Jon Agnew has suggested that Lyth should replace Trott, an apparently miscast opener.

Anyhow, Yorkshire will need to improve their bowling especially as well as their bowling if they are to produce a successful defence of the County Championship, if the last two drawn outings are anything to go by. 

YORKSHIRE versus Warwickshire; at Leeds; Sunday the 26th to Wednesday the 29th of April. Warwickshire won the toss.

Warwickshire first innings: 435 [Westwood 196, Hain 50; Bresnan 5-85, Middlebrook 3-96]

YORKSHIRE first innings: 303 [Gale 96; Rankin 6-55, Patel 3-77]

Warwickshire second innings: 219 for seven declared [Westwood 84; Middlebrook 5-82]

YORKSHIRE second innings: 221 for four [Hodd 54*; Patel 3-70]

Match drawn. YORKSHIRE 9 points, Warwickshire 11 points.

Lees - Alex will be disappointed to have made a start in each innings, without then converting it into a big score. In the end he mustered efforts of 19 and then 21. 

Rhodes - Will Rhodes amassed 75 runs in the match, which was a fine effort. However, his innings needs to go much further than merely seeing off the new ball.

Pujara - His efforts were similar to that of Rhodes. Scores of 23 and 33 represented encouraging starts, but such mediocre scores will not win too many matches.

Gale - The captain provided an important knock that saved the follow-on, helping to ensure a draw. He also weighed in with 28 more runs the second time around.

Leaning - Jack was also guilty of not converting his first innings start, as he was ousted on 41. His unbeaten effort of 35 involved a two-hour vigil at the crease.

Hodd - Andy atoned for his first effort of only twelve with an extremely important undefeated half century on the final afternoon which sealed a respectable draw.

Bresnan - The big guy took seven match wickets, costing 124 runs. He was understandably highly satisfied with his first-innings bowling on a batsman's wicket.

Middlebrook - The returning veteran proved an able understudy for the absent Rashid as he took eight wickets, costing 178 runs, which was an admirable effort.

Patterson - Steven's first innings bowling figures of one wicket for 64 runs from 29 overs highlighted his accuracy and economical bowling. He is such an asset.

Brooks - The prolific wicket-taker actually drew a blank this time around, conceding 101 runs without the reward of a single wicket. He did at least hit 21 runs.

Fisher - The infant prodigy is clearly on a learning curve as he bowled nineteen overs, costing eighty runs, with only one wicket for his troubles.