by Alviro Patterson » Thu May 04, 2017 2:03 pm
Late on the uptake, but a splendid day of cricket at Headingley yesterday. Thought Durham batted very well, in particular the top 3 rotating the strike on a regular which kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely.
Conditions changed significantly as cloud rolled in, meaning Yorkshire had to graft for their runs where Durham enjoyed batting in beautiful sunshine. It was imperative for Root and Bairstow to stay at the crease for as long as possible, because it was not a wicket where batsmen could easily score from the off. Root took a bit of time to get going, but provided good foil for Bairstow whose batting strike was always above 100 even in quieter periods. Though Bairstow got a reprieve on 72 where he was dropped by Stephen Cook with a regulation looking chance at long off, probably put off by the rowdy members in the North-East lower.
As Bairstow past 100, he found a new level by being quicker with his hands and feet. It took the faintest of edges and weakest of appeals, but Bairstow's frustration spoke loudest as he turned round in anger towards the pavilion when he looked so good for a double century. Handscomb and Ballance were initially contained, but it took three streaky fours in an over for Yorkshire to regain control.
"Stats are there to be broken" Dominic Cork
"They took all our players away, banned our captain and we still came away with a ten-wicket victory" Jason Gillespie
"You won't get anywhere slouching about half out of bed" Geoffrey Boycott
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