Tykes on front foot thanks to fine late stand (From Gazette & Herald)

Yorkshire on front foot thanks to fine late stand

11:32am Thursday 6th September 2012 in Sport By Chris Parrott

One of Yorkshire’s main problems this season has been an inability to finish off opponents.

On numerous occasions in 2012 they have found themselves in dominant positions in the LV=County Championship before decisively then letting an advantage slip.

The boot was firmly on the other foot at Headingley yesterday, though, as the Tykes moved themselves into a great position against Glamorgan.

This is after they secured themselves a healthy first-innings lead of 72 runs against their Welsh opponents after being bowled out for 344 in the Leeds sunshine.

Glamorgan, who made 272 in their first innings, then closed on 27-2 second time around to trail by 45 runs.

The fact the White Rose county are in such a good position has much to do with Ryan Sidebottom and Steven Patterson.

They arrived at the crease with the match very evenly poised with Yorkshire on 286-8, and embarked on what could yet prove to be a pivotal eighth-wicket partnership.

Sidebottom reached 35 before being dismissed, with Patterson contributing 22 to a 54-run stand.

First-team coach Jason Gillespie was full of admiration for the duo at the close.

He said: “They just went out there and played with some really good intent and put away any bad balls.

“That’s all you can ask. They played with a positive mind-set which is what they practise and that is very pleasing.

“The partnership gave us some confidence ahead of the second innings for sure.”

They were certainly important runs, after Yorkshire had earlier endured a similar batting collapse to the one that Glamorgan had suffered on day one.

It saw them lose six wickets for 94 runs, with the dismissal of Adam Lyth the catalyst for the Tykes’ demise after he was given out lbw for 95 despite appearing to hit the ball.

Captain Andrew Gale was also one of the wickets to fall, for 55, with Anthony McGrath’s well-made 39 the only other contribution of note.

When he was dismissed, the lead was only six runs with Glamorgan’s confidence sky high, before Sidebottom and Patterson’s partnership changed the course of the match.

Both would eventually fall in successive overs, to give Graham Wagg and Jim Allenby their third and fourth wickets of the day respectively, before the duo returned with the ball for the final 11 overs of play.

Patterson again impressed, taking two wickets in as many balls to complete a remarkable final session for the 28-year-old.

Nick James (4) and nightwatchman John Glover (0) were the men to go, to leave Yorkshire scenting victory ahead of day three.

Gillespie added: “To have a lead like that going into the second innings was really handy and now for them to be in a position where they’re two wickets down and still behind is really good.

“If we can pick up a couple of wickets before lunch on day three now it will be a good result for us.”