Cricket

Yorkshire secured their promotion back to Division One of the Vitality County Championship with a dominant performance against Northamptonshire at Headingley. Adam Lyth and James Wharton scored superb centuries, leading Yorkshire to a commanding lead of 224 runs.Yorkshire needed a maximum of 10 points to seal second place ahead of Middlesex, who missed out on four bonus points in their match against Sussex. Yorkshire claimed three of the six points they required by bowling out Northamptonshire for 147 before lunch. Ben Coad and Matthew Fisher did the damage with the ball, taking four and three wickets respectively.In reply, Lyth and Wharton shared a record-breaking 260-run partnership for the second wicket. Lyth hit 147 off 163 balls, while Wharton scored an unbeaten 162 off 234 balls. George Bartlett played a lone hand for Northamptonshire with an impressive 64 not out, but it was not enough to prevent Yorkshire from taking control of the match.Yorkshire reached lunch at 56 for one and tea at 228 for 1, with a lead of 81. Lyth reached his century off 111 balls during the afternoon, while Wharton's second of the season came in the early evening off 154 balls.On-loan Singh trapped Lyth lbw sweeping just short of his 150, but Wharton continued to dominate, hitting the run that secured promotion upon reaching 350. He reached 150 shortly after off 228 balls, including two more sixes, amidst a 96-run stand with Will Luxton.Bad light ended the day 4.4 overs early, but Yorkshire had already secured their promotion back to Division One.

Yorkshire's opening duo of Adam Lyth and Fin Bean dominated day one of their Vitality County Championship clash against Gloucestershire, amassing a mammoth 307-run partnership at Scarborough. Lyth, a former England opener, continued his impressive form with his fourth century of the season, while Bean notched up his maiden first-class hundred.Lyth, who hails from nearby Whitby, has a special affinity for the Scarborough ground, having scored four centuries there in the Championship. His latest ton came off 243 balls, while Bean's 164 came off 250 deliveries, including six leg-side sixes.Gloucestershire's decision to bowl first after winning the toss backfired as Lyth and Bean seized control of the match. The visiting bowlers struggled to build any pressure on the Yorkshire openers, who advanced serenely throughout the day.Lyth and Bean's partnership surpassed the previous highest opening partnership on the Scarborough ground in first-class cricket, set by Hobbs and Sutcliffe in 1931. It was also Yorkshire's first triple-century opening partnership in 10 years.However, Gloucestershire managed to break the partnership in the 81st over when van Buuren dismissed Bean for 164. Lyth followed soon after, bowled by Singh Dale for 129. James Wharton was the third wicket to fall, caught behind off Webster.Despite the late wickets, Yorkshire closed the day on a strong position at 348 for 3. The hosts will be confident of extending their lead on day two and putting Gloucestershire under further pressure.

Yorkshire's Adam Lyth became the first batter in the county's history to reach 4,000 T20 runs, leading his team to a dominant nine-wicket victory over Derbyshire in the Vitality Blast.Lyth's blistering 51-ball 84 set the tone for Yorkshire's chase of 180, which they achieved with 11 balls to spare. The veteran opener was ably supported by Dawid Malan, who remained unbeaten on 79 off 48 deliveries.Derbyshire had earlier posted a competitive 179 for 6, thanks largely to Aneurin Donald's brilliant 84 off 41 balls. However, the Falcons' innings stuttered after a promising start, with England's Joe Root claiming 2 for 20 from three overs of off-spin.Yorkshire's bowling attack, depleted by injuries, struggled to contain Donald in the early stages. The opener took 22 runs off Matthew Revis in the fifth over, including two fours and two leg-side sixes.However, the hosts fought back after the powerplay, with Jordan Thompson removing David Lloyd for 41. Dom Bess and Matthew Revis then dismissed Wayne Madsen and Samit Patel respectively, leaving Derbyshire on 131 for 3.Donald was eventually caught at deep cover off Ben Cliff for 84, and Ross Whiteley and Brooke Guest also fell cheaply to Root and Cliff.In contrast to Derbyshire's struggles in the second half of their innings, Yorkshire's chase was a clinical affair. Lyth and Malan put on a 137-run opening partnership, with Lyth reaching his fifty off just 33 balls.Lyth was eventually dismissed for 84, but Malan continued to anchor the innings, guiding Yorkshire to victory with a fine half-century.

Yorkshire's star-studded batting lineup made light work of Worcestershire's meager total of 101, securing an emphatic eight-wicket victory at Headingley to kick off their Vitality Blast campaign with a bang.Left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty, making his Yorkshire T20 debut, played a pivotal role in the Vikings' triumph, claiming a career-best 4 for 25. His incisive bowling put the skids under the Rapids, who were bowled out for a paltry 101 in just 15.4 overs.Ethan Brookes, with a middle-order knock of 42 off 32 balls, was the only visiting batter to offer any resistance. However, Yorkshire's top five, featuring international stars Donavan Ferreira, Dawid Malan, Shan Masood, and Joe Root, proved too strong for the Rapids' bowling attack.Former England Test opener Adam Lyth led the charge with an unbeaten 55 off 33 balls, while Root remained not out on 13 as Yorkshire chased down the target in just 12 overs.Moriarty's impressive performance was a testament to his determination to make an impact at Yorkshire. After limited opportunities at Surrey last season, he has seized his chance with both hands, proving to be a valuable asset to the Vikings' bowling attack.Yorkshire's victory was a welcome boost after a disappointing start to their 2024 campaign in all cricket. The win, witnessed by a crowd of 8,231, will provide the team with much-needed confidence as they look to challenge for the Vitality Blast title.

Northamptonshire and Yorkshire played out a thrilling draw in their Vitality County Championship match at Wantage Road, with Ricardo Vasconcelos' valiant century ultimately securing a share of the spoils for the hosts.Yorkshire set Northamptonshire a challenging target of 326 to win in just over two sessions, but Vasconcelos' unbeaten 129, featuring 17 boundaries, kept the home side in the hunt. However, a late fightback from Yorkshire's bowlers, led by Adam Lyth's career-best figures of 4-56, saw Northamptonshire lose eight wickets in quick succession.Vasconcelos, who had shared a rapid 63-run stand with Karun Nair (36), had to dig deep to ensure his side held out for the draw. The 33-year-old Portuguese batsman showed great character and maturity, guiding Northamptonshire to safety with eight wickets down.Earlier, Yorkshire captain Shan Masood declared his side's innings on 264 for 6 just before lunch, setting up an intriguing run chase. However, the loss of 17 overs due to rain interruptions ultimately proved too costly for Yorkshire.The draw leaves both sides winless after seven games, with Yorkshire taking 14 points and Northamptonshire 13.

Yorkshire's Adam Lyth marked his 200th Championship match with a commanding century, guiding his team to a solid 312 for 7 on day one against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.Lyth, known for his elegant cover drive, played with authority throughout his innings of 109 (205 balls). His partnership of 116 with Shan Masood (60) provided Yorkshire with a strong foundation.Despite Northamptonshire's early advantage of winning the toss and bowling on a green top under lights, Yorkshire's batsmen held their own. Lyth's half-century came off 81 balls, and he survived several close lbw appeals.After lunch, Masood joined Lyth in a productive partnership. However, the hosts fought back after tea, with Luke Procter (3 for 63) and Siddharth Kaul (2 for 81) leading the charge. Yorkshire lost five wickets for 52 runs, including Lyth's dismissal for 109.Masood reached his half-century but was caught by a diving Emilio Gay at slip. George Hill and James Wharton also fell cheaply, leaving Yorkshire in a precarious position.However, Will Luxton and Jordan Thompson showed some resistance, taking the attack to the Northamptonshire bowlers. Luxton was eventually dismissed by Procter, while Tattersall edged to Gay at slip.Thompson remained unbeaten at the end of the day, giving Yorkshire hope of a strong total on day two.

Sussex's relentless determination and Ollie Robinson's heroics propelled them to a thrilling 21-run victory over Yorkshire in a captivating Division Two encounter at Hove.Yorkshire, chasing a modest target of 183, appeared poised for victory at 158 for six, with Adam Lyth anchoring their innings with a resolute 73. However, Robinson's devastating spell turned the tide, claiming three wickets without conceding a run.Lyth's dismissal, caught behind off a sharp delivery, was followed by the brilliant catch of Jordan Thompson by Jack Carson at long leg. Robinson then bowled Dom Leech for a duck, leaving Yorkshire reeling at 158 for nine. Ben Coad's run-out by Fynn Hudson-Prentice sealed their fate.Sussex's triumph was a testament to their competitive spirit throughout the match. Despite being bowled out for 150 on the first morning, they fought back to reduce Yorkshire to 45 for four and 76 for five.Lyth's resilience and a partnership with Joe Root had given Yorkshire hope, but Sussex's bowlers remained relentless. Root's dismissal lbw to a straight delivery and George Hill's edge to the wicketkeeper left Yorkshire in a precarious position.James Wharton's inside-edge dislodged his leg bail, and Lyth's recovery efforts were thwarted by Carson's catch of Jonathan Tattersall. Robinson's brilliance then extinguished Yorkshire's hopes.In the morning, Sussex lost their last three wickets quickly, with Tom Alsop's dismissal for 86 and Robinson's injury-induced departure leaving them with a slender lead.Sussex's victory extended their unbeaten start to the season, while Yorkshire's search for their first win continues. Robinson's match-winning performance highlighted his exceptional talent and the resilience of the Sussex team.

Yorkshire dominated the opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash against Derbyshire at Headingley, thanks to an impressive batting performance led by Adam Lyth, Joe Root, and Harry Brook.Lyth, Yorkshire's in-form opener, set the tone with a well-crafted 97, hitting 15 fours in 157 balls. He narrowly missed out on a third century in four Championship matches this season when he edged Zak Chappell behind.Root and Brook then took center stage, sharing an entertaining and unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 71. Root, the England captain, played a more accumulative role, scoring 65 not out in 99 balls. Brook, on the other hand, was much more aggressive, hitting 44 not out in just 37 balls, including a straight six off Luis Reece.Derbyshire's bowlers struggled to contain Yorkshire's batsmen, despite creating several chances. Four catches were dropped behind the wicket, including Lyth on 22 and 80. Shan Masood, Yorkshire's captain, also contributed with a quickfire 40, hitting 10 fours in 25 balls.The first wicket to fall was controversial, with Fin Bean trapped lbw by Anuj Dal for 18. Replays showed that fielder Pat Brown slid into the rope trying to save a boundary, but the call of three runs stood.Despite the dropped catches, Derbyshire's bowling was not at its best, offering up too many boundary opportunities. Their former overseas player, Masood, took advantage, hitting seven fours in 10 balls across two overs from Dal and Chappell.The weather intervened just before 4pm, with bad light and rain bringing an early end to the day's play. Yorkshire closed on 276 for 3 from 59 overs, with Root and Brook well-set to continue their partnership on day two.

Gloucestershire's hopes of ending their winless streak in the Vitality County Championship were dealt a severe blow on the third day of their clash with Yorkshire at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol.Yorkshire, resuming on 57 without loss in their second innings, piled on the runs to set Gloucestershire an improbable target of 498. Adam Lyth led the charge with a fluent 113, while England's Joe Root contributed 51 and Harry Brook 68. George Hill also chipped in with a valuable 58.Gloucestershire's bowlers toiled hard but were unable to make significant inroads into the Yorkshire batting lineup. Ollie Price claimed the wickets of Finlay Bean and George Hill, while Graeme van Buuren accounted for Lyth and Shan Masood.In response, Gloucestershire's second innings got off to a shaky start. Chris Dent was dismissed cheaply, followed by Cameron Bancroft. Miles Hammond provided some resistance with a quickfire 35, but his aggressive approach proved costly as he was caught attempting a big hit.By the close of play, Gloucestershire had slumped to 97 for four, with Price unbeaten on 44. The hosts face an uphill battle to save the match on the final day, especially with heavy rain forecast overnight.