August 30, 2024

Jonny Bairstow and George Hill Dominate as Middlesex Hold Their Ground

Sam Robson leads Middlesex’s response, but Yorkshire’s big score puts them in control.

Middlesex is 141 for 1 (with Robson unbeaten on 65), trailing Yorkshire’s massive 601 for 6 declared (Hill 169*, Bairstow 160, Lyth 61, Bess 60*, Hollman 4-194) by 460 runs.

Yorkshire dominated day two at Headingley, with Jonny Bairstow scoring an impressive 160 and George Hill achieving a career-best 169 not out. Yorkshire declared at 601 for six, giving them a strong advantage in this Vitality County Championship promotion clash. Although Middlesex closed the day at 141 for one after 50 overs, the flat pitch gives them hope of securing a draw.

Jonny Bairstow, eager to make a statement after being dropped from all England squads this summer, continued his strong form by advancing from 107 overnight. The 34-year-old wicketkeeper-batter formed a record-breaking sixth-wicket partnership with George Hill, adding 238 runs. Hill, who scored his first century of the season, joined Bairstow in this remarkable stand.

Luke Hollman was the pick of the Middlesex bowlers, taking four wickets for 194 runs in 47 overs. In Middlesex’s reply, Sam Robson, who scored his only Test century at this ground against Sri Lanka in 2014, led the way with a steady 65 not out.

The Bairstow-Hill partnership set a new record for Yorkshire’s highest sixth-wicket stand against Middlesex in first-class matches. Yorkshire’s total was also the ninth highest ever recorded at this ground in first-class cricket. With Middlesex sitting second in the table and Yorkshire just three points behind in third, it’s likely that Middlesex will push hard to match Yorkshire’s efforts in this crucial Division Two clash.

This wasn’t the aggressive Bairstow fans have grown used to seeing for Yorkshire and England in recent years. Although he remained positive, he played with a lot more caution.

This approach was partly due to the situation when he joined Hill at the crease; Yorkshire was 242 for five and far from secure in building a commanding total. Additionally, the pitch lacked pace, making timing the ball challenging. And, of course, Bairstow was motivated to prove a point to the England selectors.

Hill, who had struggled with the bat this season, found some luck when he survived a missed stumping on 64 before lunch off Hollman. His last century was over a year ago, in June of the previous year, making this one—scored off 169 balls before lunch—especially significant. Like Bairstow, Hill remained calm and composed, although he did loft Hollman for a six over long-on before lunch, where Yorkshire reached 485 for six, having started the day on 372 for five.

The hosts earned four batting bonus points, just missing out on the maximum five. However, they did manage to restrict Middlesex to only one bowling point by taking five wickets before the 110-over mark. With only a three-point gap between the two teams coming into this match, every point is crucial in the promotion race.

Bairstow, who is not keeping wicket in this game, was bowled by Hollman off an under-edge while trying to pull, marking Yorkshire’s only wicket loss on day two. Hill and Dom Bess then added an unbroken 121 for the seventh wicket, with Bess scoring an unbeaten 60.

Yorkshire’s innings lasted 144 overs, and their main goal was to avoid losing, as a defeat could significantly impact their promotion chances. While Middlesex chose Hollman as their sole frontline spinner, Yorkshire opted for two spinners: off-spinner Bess and left-armer Dan Moriarty.

After a brief spell from seamers Ben Coad and Jordan Thompson, Yorkshire’s spinners took over for most of the evening. Bess took the only wicket to fall, dismissing Mark Stoneman for 27, leaving Middlesex at 61 for one in the 19th over. Robson then guided Middlesex to the close without further loss, reaching fifty off 105 balls. He and Max Holden, who was 39 not out, have an unbroken second-wicket stand of 80.

Jaydev Unadkat Tightens Grip After Sussex’s Record 607

Wayne Madsen fights for Derbyshire, but a massive deficit looms.

Derbyshire is 178 for 6 (Madsen 79*, Unadkat 3-19), trailing Sussex’s 607 for 8 declared (Hughes 144, Simpson 121, Carson 97, Haines 72, Alsop 70) by 429 runs.

Sussex dominated Derbyshire at Hove, pushing for a win that would boost their promotion hopes in the Vitality County Championship. After posting their highest-ever total against Derbyshire, 607 for 8, the second division leaders quickly reduced Derbyshire to 73 for 5. Wayne Madsen provided some resistance, remaining unbeaten on 79 at stumps on day two, but Derbyshire still faces a daunting 429-run deficit. Indian left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat, returning to Sussex for the season’s final stretch, took 3 for 19 in a skillful five-over opening spell, putting Derbyshire under immediate pressure.

Opener Harry Came edged Unadkat’s third ball to first slip, where Tom Alsop took a sharp, low catch. Brooke Guest followed, driving recklessly at another outswinger, only to send it straight to backward point. Derbyshire was in deep trouble at 19 for 3 in the seventh over when Fynn Hudson-Prentice struck with his fifth ball, straightening it just enough to trap left-hander Luis Reece. The fourth wicket fell soon after, with Derbyshire at 24, when Tom Haines took a fine diving catch to his left to dismiss skipper David Lloyd, after Unadkat pushed one across his defenses.

Wayne Madsen and Aneurin Donald tried to stabilize the innings with a 49-run partnership for the fifth wicket, but off-spinner Jack Carson, who had earlier scored a career-best 97, broke through by slipping one past Donald’s defensive shot. Madsen then found support from Anuj Dal, and together they added 84 runs for the sixth wicket in 24 overs. However, just before stumps, Carson struck again, dismissing Dal for 45 with Alsop catching him at short leg off a back-foot shot.

Earlier in the day, Sussex captain Ben Simpson led a successful push to secure the maximum five batting bonus points by reaching 450 runs within the first 110 overs. He launched an early assault on Derbyshire pacers Daryn Dupavillon and Zak Chappell. Simpson had already hit three elegant offside fours in Dupavillon’s opening over of the day when Alsop, at the start of the second over, chipped Chappell’s first delivery straight to short mid-wicket after adding just one run to his overnight score of 69, his third consecutive fifty and seventh of the season.

Alsop showed his frustration by swishing his bat after his mistake, but Simpson, who had resumed on 25, seized the opportunity to score quickly. He hit two extra-cover fours off Chappell, followed by a straight-driven four off Dupavillon to bring up his fifty in 68 balls. Another powerful straight drive off Chappell took him to 60.

Hudson-Prentice was dismissed for 8, edging Anuj Dal’s medium pace to keeper Guest. But Carson brought up Sussex’s 450 in the 108th over by driving left-arm spinner Jack Morley high over mid-off for four. Carson then hit Morley over the short leg-side boundary for the first of his three sixes, with the last being a massive shot over mid-wicket off Dupavillon as he surpassed his previous highest score of 87.

Simpson eventually fell for 121, caught at long off after a brilliant innings that included a six and 13 fours in 167 balls. During his innings, he also reached 10,000 first-class career runs. Carson’s bid for a maiden first-class hundred ended when he was bowled swinging at a full ball from Dupavillon. His excellent knock of 97 came from 125 balls, featuring six fours and three sixes. Sussex declared immediately after, posting their highest total at Hove in seven years.