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| Rashid claimed 5 for 117 as Lancashire capitulated after lunch on Day Four. |
Yorkshire extended their lead at the top of
Division One of the LV County Championship after they annihilated Lancashire at
Emirates Old Trafford by an innings and 18 runs.
Lancashire appeared to be coping well in
the first session as Usman Khawaja (117) and Ashwell Prince (40) launched a
rearguard action for the first hour unscathed, but the loss of five wickets for
27 runs after lunch gave the visitors a convincing victory.
Khawaja’s first century for Lancashire was a
rare highlight for the hosts in a forgettable match, as the Red Rose outfit
face the daunting reality of impending relegation after suffering their fifth
defeat of the season.
Lancashire’s intention to survive the final
day was to be undermined by Adil Rashid (5-117) and Jack Brooks, who claimed
three of the five wickets to fall quickly after lunch, including Tom Smith for
just two runs.
Rather fittingly, Adam Lyth (1-37) was the
man to take the final wicket, that of Stephen Parry (28), after he and Tom
Bailey (25) had added 44 runs for the final wicket, before the double-centurion
ended the game.
Much hope rested on Lancashire’s overnight
batsmen to bat for a large portion of the final day, but when Prince fell to
Rashid at midday Yorkshire knew that they had made a crucial breakthrough.
This ended a partnership worth 92 runs and
in truth Lancashire never fully recovered from this loss. The leg-spin of
Rashid proved to be too much to handle for the hosts, claiming the wicket of
Steven Croft (16) as Kane Williamson took a brilliant catch at second slip.
Croft stayed at the crease long enough to
see Khawaja reach his maiden century for Lancashire in 178 deliveries, although
his efforts were to be in vain as Yorkshire dealt irreparable damage after the
interval.
The efforts of Prince and Khawaja suggested
that title-chasing Yorkshire would be made to bat again, but a procession of
wickets demonstrated the gulf between title contenders and relegation.
Alex Davies (7) was the first of three
wickets to be claimed by Brooks after lunch, edging to Alex Lees in the slips
after he had dropped Khawaja moments earlier. Smith soon followed, edging to
Jonny Bairstow as Brooks struck with the new ball in hand to leave Lancashire
meandering at 249/6.
Any remote chance for making Yorkshire bat
again, let alone saving the draw, rested solely with Khawaja, but when he was
deceived by the turn produced by Rashid, the Australian international found
himself halfway down the pitch, supplying Bairstow with an easy stumping.
Chapple then became Brooks’ third and final
victim of the innings when he was comprehensively bowled for 3 and the wicket
of Simon Kerrigan (1) completed a five-wicket-haul for Rashid with Lancashire
now just one wicket away from defeat.
The last-ditch efforts of Parry and Bailey
gave a disgruntled crowd something to be smile at, although the cheers sounded
at the sight of runs were more ironic than those of genuine elation.
The pair struck a total of nine fours as
they provided an entertaining end to the match, edging Lancashire desperately
close to the total of 332 which they required to deny Yorkshire of an innings
victory.
As a testimony to the proficient quality
held by Yorkshire this season, Lyth and Rashid refused to be kept out of
proceedings and rounded off the perfect victory against their roses rivals with
superb all-round contributions.
One swipe too many proved to be the end of
Parry as he was bowled by Lyth, handing Yorkshire a much-deserved victory, one
which takes them 26 points clear of Nottinghamshire in second place. They were
defeated by Lancashire’s relegation rivals, Durham, in a round of matches that
may have decided the fate of those at the top and bottom of the table.
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