COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Headingley: CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Yorkshire 425 Warwickshire 253 & 193-3 Yorkshire 7 pts, Warwickshire 4 pts Match scorecard
 Clarke has only made three County Championship fifties this season |
Warwickshire all-rounder Rikki Clarke led the resistance after Yorkshire had enforced the follow-on with a first-innings lead of 172 at Headingley. Clarke was still there at the end on 46 not out as the Bears were bowled out for 253, in response to County Championship leaders Yorkshire's 425. He then followed that up with an unbeaten 51 as the Bears reached 193-3 before rain ended play for the day. But Jim Troughton was forced to retire hurt after being struck above the eye. Troughton went to hospital for a check-up after being struck over the right eye by a bouncer from Tino Best when he was on 17. But, although suffering a cut and bruising, he is expected to resume his innings on the final morning. Warwickshire were 221-7, still trailing by 204 when the third day's play began, their three remaining wickets all being picked up by paceman Steve Patterson (4-57). Clarke did help secure a second batting bonus point but, three runs later, the innings was wrapped up when last man, Boyd Rankin, was lbw without scoring. Clarke, the pick of the batsmen, had hit seven boundaries off his 112 balls while Adil Rashid also clamed four wickets and would have had more, but for a couple of dropped catches. With rain threatening, Yorkshire decided to enforce the follow-on, Ian Westwood having an early escape when he edged Oliver Hannon-Dalby to second slip where Rashid could not cling on to a low catch to his right. Rashid was back in the attack after only six overs of the new ball and soon bowled Darren Maddy to leave Warwickshire on 28-1 at lunch. Westwood and Ant Botha frustrated Yorkshire for a while after the interval, adding 56 in 16 overs before Botha was caught behind low down by Gerard Brophy, off Rashid, who snared Westwood lbw for 42 in his next over. Yorkshire could feel well-pleased at having their opponents on 83-3 but Clarke settled into his second major innings of the match, lofting Azeem Rafiq, over long-on for six and straight driving Best for four. Troughton, too, was in defiant mood but, having made 17 he ducked into a bouncer from Best, the ball appearing to push back the front of his protective helmet. After a lengthy spell of treatment he was forced to leave the field, his replacement in the middle, Ateeq Javid, continuing Warwickshire's fightback. The complexion of the game was slowly beginning to change and both batsmen held firm until rain brought about an early end with 10 overs remaining.
BBC Sport's Warwickshire correspondent Clive Eakin offers his close of play thoughts: It has not always been easy watching Warwickshire in the Championship this season but this was an uplifting day. Warwickshire's batsmen fought impressively, including teenager Ateeg Javid, who shrugged off some undignified sledging from Tino Best to offer an outside chance of a remarkable turnaround. Jim Troughton should be back to bat on the final day and, if Warwickshire can get 150 ahead, it could be interesting.
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