Yorkshire 364 for five (Lyth 152*, Tattersall 104*) vs Surrey
Malan, Kohler-Cadmore, Root, Bairstow, Brook, Ballance, Willey, Duke, Rashid, Fisher, Revis, Coad. Not a foul Yorkshire XII. The solely downside was that they had been the gamers lacking at Scarborough. Playing for England, injured, omitted or on a pilgrimage to Mecca. The Yorkshire members making their annual trek to the coast with comparable devotion for the beginning of the Scarborough Festival feared the worst.
Lyth is 34 now, England ambitions lengthy gone, however contemplating a number of the high-order failures of latest classic, on days like this it’s exhausting to withstand the notion that he deserved greater than seven Tests. If something was more likely to dismiss him, it was fatigue as he edged Jamie Overton large of slips late within the day. There was additionally a triple bat spin in his frustration at a uncommon play-and-miss at Joe Worrall in mid-afternoon. Otherwise, he drove with the brightness and readability of phosphoric acid and pulled properly when he selected to. He has 29 first-class a whole lot now, and he marked his second at Scarborough by bringing one up within the grand method with a straight six down the bottom in opposition to the offspinner, Will Jacks.
His different alarming second got here shortly earlier than six o’clock, with the second new ball two overs outdated, when he needed to wave apart a steward, in fluorescent yellow tabard, who had determined to have a breather subsequent to the sightscreen. Naturally, a number of the crowd barracked, having warmed up their larynxes earlier by grumbling on the teamsheet and jeering at Surrey. (When they sluggish-handclapped Overton, who had been arguing with the footholds, Overton clapped again). Do not disturb the focus of the Mighty Peanut at North Marine Road or condemnation will certainly fall upon you.
With due respect, as a result of he’s a scrapping cricketer, what was not anticipated to the identical diploma was a most measured of maiden Championship a whole lot by Tattersall, who was taking part in his first Championship match of the season after reclaiming his wicketkeeping spot from Harry Duke. Tattersall, who performed a recreation on mortgage for Surrey final season, dealt intelligently with Scarborough’s steep bounce and performed superbly off his pads, batting inside his limits with an abundance of commonsense. Not trendy, however massively efficient. Duke, for all his promise, has had a making an attempt season; it was a sound change in coverage.
Surrey will insist that Tattersall was run out on 29, a direct hit on the non-striker’s finish after Lyth had turned Jacks into the leg-facet and probably the most stunning dawn over the bay will nonetheless not dissuade them of the actual fact. He was additionally badly dropped on 75, Jacks holding his head in his arms after spilling an edge off Worrall.
Lyth and Tattersall had been additionally assisted by Surrey’s failure to lock on to a constant, fuller Scarborough size – the bottom slopes from sightscreen to sightscreen, though not as a lot as Hove, and the strategy down the slope might be unsettling (they bowled 18 no-balls). The bounce can be steep, at an honest tempo. Surrey have appeared on the Festival frequently lately, but it surely was a novel expertise for all this seam assault and it confirmed as they bowled too quick.
All in all, Surrey didn’t resemble a facet 16 factors away from Division One; Hampshire and Lancashire might be heartened. They rid an inexperienced Yorkshire high order from their presence inside 34.1 overs, 5 wickets down for 125. But as soon as Lyth and Tattersall took management, Surrey lacked self-discipline in wearying circumstances. Ryan Patel’s medium-paced outswingers restored order with a unfavourable line forward of the second new ball, however as the gang dispersed it didn’t convey a breakthrough.
“I think we may have taken our foot off the gas a little bit and thought we may run through them quite quickly,” Overton stated. “But that’s cricket. It can bite you on the backside.
Surrey’s failings might have been summed up in one Overton delivery, the clock by then having ticked around to 6.30pm, bodies aching, feet sore. Tattersall, on 99, with fewer than four overs to go, was presented with a leg-stump full-toss which he gleefully clipped away for four. Lyth, who had been emotionally engaged all day with the runs scored not just by himself but by his batting partners, a model senior pro, gave him a hug of celebration.
Foreboding had coloured Yorkshire’s morning. It was the only cloud in the sky. The media box was a greenhouse, capable of growing good-sized aubergines in a day. At least one statistician was known to be researching when Yorkshire had last fielded only three capped players. This undertaking had reached World War 2 only for Yorkshire to cap Jordan Thompson before the start of play and render the effort entirely meaningless. Not what was needed on the hottest day of the year.
A new-ball collapse darkened expressions. Absentees were listed. There may even have been some internal Yorkshire politics expressed. Pity Darren Gough, Yorkshire’s director of cricket, who should have arranged his Members Forum in the marquee not for the morning but after close of play.
Worrall, Surrey’s stand-out bowler with two for 61 from 22 overs, had George Hill caught at third slip for a duck six balls into proceedings before Tom Lawes trapped James Wharton lbw and Aaron Hardie had Will Fraine caught at third slip.
But Yorkshire always have talent coming through. Will Luxton, a member of the England U-19 side that reached the World Cup final in February, shone with promise on debut, loose but attractive, dropped on nought in the slips, caught in the slips off a no-ball on 17, but showing enough to make Yorkshire onlookers feel that in among the misjudgements there was a batter of rich potential.
Lyth stood again to let him take the applause at lunch for his 31 not out, just for him to fall to the primary ball after the resumption. When he stood again for Luxton, it was a show of togetherness in adversity; when he let Tattersall prepared the ground, it was a gesture of immense satisfaction.
David Hopps writes on county cricket for ESPNcricinfo @davidkhopps
