COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Scarborough:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Warwickshire 320 and 111-2, Yorkshire 328 (Warwicks 6pts, Yorks 6pts)
26-29 August 2009

David Wainwright's courageous 102 not out dragged Yorkshire right back into their clash with relegation rivals Warwickshire at Scarborough.

The Tykes started the day on 100-7, still needing another 71 to avoid following on.

But, thanks to Wainwright's century, batting at nine, and an in-form Gerard Brophy's 85, Yorkshire's 328 all out even earned a small first innings lead.

The Bears reached 111-2 by the close in a game that is now heading for a draw.

Warwickshire skipper Ian Westwood then ended his bad trot with 58 not out, only his third half century of the season.

But it was Wainwright's day as the 24-year-old celebrated the second first-class century of his career, almost a year on from his also unbeaten 104, batting at 10 against Sussex at Hove last September to save Yorkshire from relegation.

Sreesanth, who had grabbed four wickets on the second evening, was much less effective when play began and both Brophy, 27 overnight, and Wainwright made rapid progress with a flurry of boundaries off the Indian paceman.

He conceded 33 runs, including seven fours, in just three overs before being replaced by Neil Carter, but Brophy moved smartly to his third consecutive Championship half-century.

A familiar figure took the field for a while when former South African paceman Allan Donald, Warwickshire's soon to be ex-bowling coach, came on as a substitute.

But his presence did little to stop the runs as the follow-on was avoided and Yorkshire claimed the first of what were to be three unexpected batting points.

Brophy, dismissed for 99 in his previous innings in the Roses Match last week, was again denied a century after the stand had reached 144 in 35 overs.

He propped half forward at Ant Botha and was taken at slip. But Wainwright now found a reliable partner in Matthew Hoggard who played some delicate strokes of his own in another flourishing stand, this time of 58, before gloving a legside catch to Tim Ambrose for 18.

At 291-9, last man Deon Kruis had the weight both of Wainwright's century and a third batting bonus point on his shoulders.

It was Kruis who dashed a single to raise the 300 shortly before Sreesanth returned to the attack.

But then Wainwright turned him on the legside to make it into three figures off 147 balls, receiving a standing ovation from the North Marine Road crowd.

And runs continued to flow as Kruis suddenly launched a late assault, driving Naqaash Tahir back through his hands for four and planting him over mid-wicket for six.

But, in attempting a big legside hit he spiralled the ball into the air and fell to a superbly-judged overhead catch by Ambrose to give Sreesanth final figures of 5-93.

Despite a rain shower bringing an early tea, Warwickshire openers Westwood and Botha made untroubled progress to 96.

But skipper Anthony McGrath bowled Botha a long hop which he cut straight to Richard Pyrah at point. And, in the next over Ajmal Shahzad bowled nightwatchman Tahir offering no stroke.

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