YORKSHIRE v GLAMORGAN

Close of Play Report

With Glamorgan having reached 215-8 at tea, Timm van der Gugten steered Matt Fisher to third man for a pair of fours, but with the total on 228 Harris edged Fisher to second slip where Adam Lyth completed a good low catch to his left. Jamie McIlroy square-drove Hill for four before being caught at third slip as Glamorgan ended five runs short of a batting point.

Yorkshire had 22 overs to face with Adam Lyth and Finlay Bean opening the batting against Michael Neser and van der Gugten. Lyth began by cover-driving Neser for four before clipping van der Gugten to fine-leg. Lyth also on-drove Neser but, with the total on 21, Lyth departed l.b.w. to van der Gugten. The floodlights came on as Saud Shakeel joined Bean and survived a loud appeal for leg before.

Harris then replaced Neser and had Bean dropped at third slip as the opener edged the seamer before Shakeel played a pair of sublime cover drives against van der Gugten plus another against Harris. Bean repeated the stroke against the Dutchman but then had his stumps rearranged with the total on 46. Five runs later Neser returned to the fray and trapped Shakeel l.b.w.

Dawid Malan was joined by Mickey Edwards and steered McIlroy through point but, with the total on 59, Edwards edged Neser to second slip with Labuschagne completing the catch. Two balls later Fisher edged Neser to fourth slip where Sam Northeast completed the catch with Bairstow coming in with Yorkshire on 60-5.

Teatime Report

Glamorgan had reached 83-2 at lunch having recovered through the efforts of Labuschagne and Northeast from 1-2 in the fifth over. But the latter departed to the third ball of the session as the batter with a 400 to his name in 1st XI cricket gloved a rising delivery from Mickey Edwards into the hands of Finlay Bean, a man with a score of 400 to his name in 2nd XI cricket. Kiran Carlson duly replaced him and got off the mark by nurdling Coad to third man. The bowler then limped off with what appeared to be a thigh injury with Fisher replacing him. Carlson responded by unleashing a ferocious cover-drive for four.

Labuschagne then flicked Edwards to fine-leg before Carlson on-drove Hill when he returned for a second salvo at the Howard Stand End. Labuschagne also nurdled Fisher to the vacant ropes at third man before on-driving Hill to the fence at mid-wicket to complete a patient fifty from 142 balls. Carlson then clipped Fisher to square-leg for four but on 16 he departed to a fine one-handed catch by Jonny Bairstow diving to his left to pouch an inside edge to give Hill his first wicket with the visitors on 135-4.

Billy Root joined Labuschagne and began with a nurdle to third man for four against Hill followed by a square-drive against the same bowler for a second boundary. But Hill gained revenge as he claimed the prized wicket of Labuschagne who feathered a rising ball into Bairstow’s gloves. 154-5 saw Chris Cooke make his way to the middle as Jordan Thompson also returned to the attack at the Kirkstall Lane End. Cooke clipped Thompson for four to square-leg but next ball chipped a catch to the fielder at short mid-wicket as Glamorgan slipped to 161-6.

Michael Neser began by clipping Hill to square-leg and mid-on for four but then shouldered arms to Edwards and was bowled with Glamorgan on 174-7. Root then skewed a drive through point against Edwards before thick-edging him for four through the slips, with Timm van der Gugten guiding Thompson for four to third man followed by a deft glance to the ropes at long-leg. But, with the total on 199, Root skewed another drive and was caught by Jonny Tattersall, the substitute fielder, at backward point.

Having been joined James Harris, van der Gugten clipped Edwards through mid-wicket for four before his new partner cover-drove Thompson.

Morning update

By a strange coincidence, Glamorgan were also on Yorkshire soil in 1953 on Tuesday 2 June for the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the ceremony taking place during the final day of the Welsh county’s three-day contest at the Bramall Lane ground in Sheffield. The weather though in South Yorkshire was far from regal with no play taking place as the contest ended in a watery draw.

The weather hasn’t been very kind so far in 2023 to Yorkshire, who like the Welsh county, are still seeking their first victory of the campaign, having had a complete washout at Bristol and then seeing the last day at Hove being also lost to the weather when the White Rose county needed just 63 runs to defeat Sussex. However, the overhead conditions this morning in Leeds may have been in their favour, as after winning the toss, they opted to bowl first and saw David Lloyd depart to the fourth ball as a gleeful Jonny Bairstow pouched the edge which Ben Coad had found from the visiting captain’s bat.

It might have been 0-2 had Dom Bess, at short-leg, clung onto a sharp chance from Marnus Labuschagne, but in Coad’s third over it became 1-2 as Andrew Salter who had moved up to open the batting in Eddie Byrom’s absence with back spasm was trapped l.b.w. Sam Northeast drove Matt Fisher square of the wicket before off-driving him to the ropes in front of the Howard Stand as the former Yorkshire batter struck successive fours. He then had a life in Fisher’s next over as Adam Lyth at second slip spilled a regulation catch.

Labuschagne then guided Jordan Thompson through backward point for four before Sam Northeast biffed Mickey Edwards’ first delivery through extra-cover before clipping him to square-leg. Northeast then unleashed a rasping square-cut for four when George Hill entered the attack, swiftly followed by a cover-driven boundary. After some quiet reconnaissance, Labuschagne flicked Edwards to the ropes at backward square-leg before Thompson switched ends and was swatted through point for four by Northeast who then punched Fisher through point for another four.

Evening Update

The rain eased around 1600pm and after an inspection by the umpires, they hoped play could resume at 1645pm. But another downpour took place shortly afterwards and play was called off at 16.30pm.

Afternoon update

Having faced an over before lunch, Glamorgan suffered a further delay as rain fell during the interval, delaying the resumption until 1410pm and the loss of a further eight overs. Jordan Thompson opened the bowling at the Howard End with Matt Fisher continuing at the Kirkstall Lane End. Andrew Salter cover-drove Fisher before David Lloyd flicked Thompson to the ropes at mid-wicket. Salter then cover-drove Thompson for another fluent boundary before Lloyd did the same to Fisher who struggled with his rhythm and run-up.

Mickey Edwards then entered the attack and was on-driven for four by Lloyd who then punched Thompson off the back foot. But with the total on 44, Salter departed l.b.w. to Thompson as Marnus Labuschagne made his way to the middle. He began watchfully again as the light became gloomy necessitating the floodlights being switched on. Edwards returned at the Kirkstall Lane End and removed Lloyd who skewed a drive into the hands of the fielder at backward point. But no sooner had Sam Northeast arrived in the middle, the heavens opened and the players left the field with Glamorgan on 57-2.

Morning update

Whilst the attention of many in the UK and around the world is all about the new King’s reign, the minds of the Glamorgan contingent in Leeds this morning is focused on the rain, especially after a day yesterday which was undoubtedly the team’s best of the season so far. Their batters scrapped hard on a slow, green-tinged surface and under a heavy cloud cover after being put in to bat by the home side. They also feasted on some loose deliveries from the Yorkshire bowlers with their final total seemingly being above par, before reducing Yorkshire to 62-5 after a probing opening spell by Michael Neser and Timm van der Gugten.

The visitors were eager to make further headway this morning but, with rain having fallen overnight and throughout the morning, the umpires made an inspection at 1000am at which they decided to delay the start of play. After a further inspection at 1100am, it was agreed that play would get underway at 12noon with eight overs lost from the daily allocation.

There was an hour’s play before lunch with Timm van der Gugten and Michael Neser resuming the bowling duties. Dawid Malan square drove Neser whilst Jonny Bairstow flicked the Dutchman to the ropes at square-leg before drilling the Australian through mid-off. Malan then on-drove van der Gugten before outside-edging him through a vacant fourth slip. But in Neser’s next over, Malan was adjudged l.b.w. as Glamorgan grabbed a second bowling point.

90-6 immediately became 90-7 as George Hill shouldered arms to the next delivery and was bowled before Dom Bess did the same to the next delivery as Neser claimed a hat-trick the eleventh for Glamorgan in first-class cricket and the first against Yorkshire since 1962 when Jeff Jones recorded the feat at Harrogate. Neser claimed a seventh wicket in his next over as Jordan Thomson feathered another outswinger into Chris Cooke’s gloves. Kiran Carlson then ran out Ben Coad as Jonny Bairstow looked to sneak the strike at the end of van Gugten’s over as Neser came within one wicket of recording the best bowling figures for Glamorgan in Yorkshire recorded by Peter Judge who took 8/75 at Bradford Park Avenue in 1939.

Evening Update

Yorkshire's target was 492 from a minimum of 139 overs, of which there were 43 overs remaining when tea was taken. But steady rain fell during the interval and prevented a resumption, much to Glamorgan's frustration. The rain eased for a while but then returned as the umpires called off play at 1745pm.

Teatime Update

Marnus Labuschagne had reached his fifty from 104 balls in the final over before lunch by twice reverse-sweeping Bess followed by ramping him to fine leg as Glamorgan went to the interval leading by 317 runs. He continued to toy with the bowlers as he executed another pair of ramps to fine-leg as Jordan Thompson opened the bowling at the Howard Stand before slapping Mickey Edwards to long-on and long-off when he returned at the Kirkstall Lane End.

The procession of unorthodox boundaries was halted as Northeast cut Thompson into Saud Shakeel’s hands in the gully as Kiran Carlson joined Labuschagne with Glamorgan leading by 344 runs. The Australian played a pair of forearm smashes against Edwards as the ball disappeared to long-on before gleefully taking the mickey again and swatting the ball through mid-off. He then deftly glided Thomson to third man for four before Fisher returned and found the edge of Carlson’s bat with Jonny Bairstow completing the regulation catch.

222-4 saw Billy Root join Labuschagne who completed his hundred from 142 balls by steering Thompson to the vacant ropes at third man. He celebrated by cover-driving the seamer for four before Root advanced down the wicket and drilled George Hill through mid-off for four prior to flat-batting him through extra-cover.

Bess returned and was straight-driven for four by Root before Labuschagne brought up the 400-lead as he pulled the spinner to mid-wicket before sweeping the next delivery to fine-leg. Root late-cut Hill for four before Labuschagne lofted Bess for a straight six followed by a pull for four to fine-leg. Root also square-cut Bess before Labuschagne completed his 150 from 186 balls by late-cutting the spinner for yet another four.

Labuschagne then flat-batted Bess through the covers before Root completed his fifty from 68 balls. With the total on 352-4 Glamorgan declared with a lead of 491 and Labuschagne unbeaten on 170 and just short of Matthew Maynard’s record of 186 of the highest score by a Glamorgan batter in Yorkshire made at Leeds in 1999.

Morning Update

70 years ago on Coronation Day, 2 June 1953, Glamorgan had seen the final day of their match against Yorkshire at the Bramall Lane ground in Sheffield washed out because of rain. Whilst it allowed Glamorgan’s cricketers a chance to head back to South Wales earlier than expected in readiness for their next match the following day against Essex at Stradey Park in Llanelli, this is definitely not a scenario the team of 2023 want repeating as, after the heroics of Michael Neser yesterday who returned a hat-trick and completed career-best figures of 7/32. His return, which was Glamorgan’s best for twenty years, allowed the Welsh county to end a rain-affected day 196 runs ahead and with 200 overs still remaining in the game, a lack of further interruptions means that there is plenty of time for David Lloyd as his team to press for their first victory in Championship cricket at Headingley since 1999.

Fortunately, it was dry and sunny in Leeds this morning as Marnus Labuschagne and Sam Northeast resumed Glamorgan’s second innings after the players and on-field officials had lined up and sung together with the crowd “God Save the King” prior to the start of play. Mickey Edwards and Jordan Thompson resumed the bowling with the latter being regally square-cut by Northeast for four before the former was drilled through the covers by Labuschagne. Finlay Bean got a hand to another fierce cut from the Australian’s bat but was unable to cling onto the rebound.

Labuschagne then upper-cut Edwards through point for a rasping four before driving Fisher through the covers for another high-class boundary. Northeast also drove Fisher through the covers to bring up the 100 before Labuschagne on-drove the bowler for another four. Northeast greeted the return of Thompson to the attack by steering him square of the wicket for four followed by an upper cut for six over third man and then another rasping cut to reach 50 from 88 balls.

He celebrated by clipping the next ball through square-leg for four to bring up the century stand for the third wicket before Labuschagne took a single off Dom Bess to take the lead past 300.

Close of Play Report

George Hill had struck four successive fours in the over from Labuschagne before tea to complete an 84-ball fifty with van der Gugten and McIlroy returning to the bowling after tea with Yorkshire on 240-2. But in the third over of ther session, Hill edged a delivery from the Dutchman with Chris Cooke completing a good low catch as Dawid Malan belatedly joined his captain. In van der Gugten’s next over Lyth square-cut him for four before flicking him to fine-leg in his next. He then clipped Neser to backward point to complete his 150 from 192 balls before Malan glanced the Australian to the ropes at fine-leg before biffing the next ball through extra-cover for four.

Malan then cover drove James Harris before departing l.b.w. to the next ball as Yorkshire slipped to 281-4 with Saud Shakeel making his way to the middle. Lyth was then struck on the glove by a rising delivery from Harris before Shakeel pulled Neser for four followed by a square-cut for four. Lyth brought up the 300 by straight-driving Harris for four before Shakeel square-drove and cover-drove successive balls from Harris for a trio of fours.

Lyth then steered McIlroy through point but departed to the next delivery as the umpire upheld the appeal for l.b.w. Dom Bess then departed in identical fashion to the next ball to complete a king pair over the Coronation weekend before Jordan Thompson survived the hat-trick ball. Next over, he swatted McIlroy for six before Glamorgan took the new ball with fifteen overs remaining with van der Gugten and Neser returning to the attack.

Shakeel off-drove van der Gugten before Thompson did the same to successive balls from Neser. Runs though were irrelevant as the visitors pressed for the remaining four wickets to securing only their second Championship victory at Leeds. Thompson edged Neser over the slip cordon but Harris returned at the Howard End as saw Shakeel edge to a gleeful Labuschagne at second slip. Four balls later 377-7 became 378-8 as Matt Fisher departed l.b.w. to Harris.

Mickey Edwards came in with nine overs remaining as Glamorgan pressed with nine close catchers and had a loud appeal for l.b.w. turned down against Thompson as he groped forward to van der Gugten. Next over he completed his fifty as he steered Harris through the gully for four before edging him just out of the grasp of gully. But Edwards then shouldered arms to the last ball of the penultimate over and was bowled by van der Gugten as Ben Coad, the Tykes last man made his way to the middle. Neser bowled the final over and beat Thompson’s bat with a couple of beauties but the Australian could not complete a fairytale finish as the game ended in a draw.

Afternoon Update

Yorkshire had been dismissed for 106 in 31 overs on Friday. This morning their openers batted through 28.5 overs before van der Gugten removed Bean with the last ball of the session. Jonny Bairstow joined Lyth as Neser returned at the Howard End and was steered through point by the home captain. But with the total on 105, van der Gugten struck again as Bairstow edged to Labuschagne at second slip. After George Hill had announced his arrival with an on-driven four, the pair nearly joined forces in the Dutchman’s next over as Lyth, on 69, edged the ball into and out of the fielder’s hands.

Hill then skewed a drive against Neser over the head of gully before punching James Harris off the back foot through extra-cover when he returned at the Kirkstall Lane End before later in the over flat-batting a delivery through point. Lyth then clipped the seamer to the ropes at fine-leg before cover-driving the next delivery with aplomb prior to greeting the return of Lloyd by square-driving the visiting captain, followed by a deft flick to fine-leg.

Lyth completed his century by steering McIlroy through point - his 135th delivery and 18th boundary - before Hill punched Lloyd through extra-cover. Andrew Salter then entered the attack at the Kirkstall Lane End and was swept for four by Lyth who later in the over drilled him over long-off for six. Lyth brought up the 200 by sweeping Salter for four before pulling him for six to bring up the 200.

Morning Report

If this game is part of the Phoney War ahead of the forthcoming Ashes series it is definitely advantage Australia with Michael Neser producing a stellar performance of swing bowling on Friday before a masterclass of batting yesterday from Marnus Labuschagne. Whilst the attention of much of the nation was on the orbs and sceptres in Westminster Abbey, he put the Yorkshire attack to the sword as he completed a regal and unbeaten 170 - his second highest score for the Welsh county - and all despite being struck in the Crown Jewels when on 97.

Glamorgan declared on 352-4 shortly before tea and set Yorkshire a mammoth target of 492 runs from a minimum of 139 overs. But the weather, which had dampened the Coronation celebrations elsewhere, saw the remaining 43 overs in Saturday’s quota being lost as rain enshrouded the Headingley ground for the rest of the day.

It was bright and sunny this morning as Timm van der Gugten shared the new ball with Jamie McIlroy as Adam Lyth and Finlay Bean looked to make a solid start. Lyth clipped the Dutchman to the fine-leg boundary before twice driving McIlroy through the covers. Neser joined the attack after a dozen overs and was cover-driven by Lyth before James Harris also had a trundle at the Howard End and was pulled by Lyth just over the head of Carlson at mid-wicket.

The Yorkshire captain celebrated his good fortune by cover-driving Harris’ next delivery in addition to cover-driving Neser who, in the less oppressive conditions, found less lateral movement than on Friday. Lyth then pulled Neser for six before surviving a sharp caught-and-bowled chance against Harris. Bean continued to adopt a more circumspect approach and played and missed several times against Neser before Lyth on-drove Harris to complete an 80-ball fifty.

Bean greeted the introduction of David Lloyd into the attack by square-cutting him for four - his 72nd delivery and after 105 minutes at the crease. Lyth then clipped van der Gugten to square-leg but in his next over, the Dutchman trapped Bean l.b.w..