Lancashire collapse as Yorkshire take control of Roses encounter

A devastating collapse in Lancashire's first innings allowed Yorkshire to grab the upper hand on the second day of the Roses match at Headingley in the Specsavers County Championship.


Lancashire were dismissed for 196 inside 61 overs, losing seven wickets for 46 runs inside 25 overs. Liam Livingstone continued his superb season for the Red Rose, finishing unbeaten on 60 to take his championship average to 81.25, but a relentless bowling display from Yorkshire left the visitors in disarray.


Forfeiting a first-innings lead of 112 runs, Lancashire edged their way towards 200 and a batting point, with Livingstone's fourth half-century of the season being the only significant contribution. 

A ninth-wicket partnership with Kyle Jarvis (33) worth 48 runs was the biggest of the innings, with Lancashire sliding from 46/0 to 92/7 in the afternoon session. Yorkshire then reached close of play on 77/3, extending their lead to 189 runs, with Adam Lyth leading the charge with an unbeaten 44.


Yorkshire's final wicket was collected by Neil Wagner, who struck with his fifth ball of the day, finishing the innings with 4-75. After ending a frustrating ninth-wicket partnership by removing Andrew Hodd at the end of the first day, Wagner had Steven Patterson (45) caught by Tom Smith at second slip, as Yorkshire posted 308 after falling to 29/4 on the first morning.


With the match still very much in the balance at this stage, Lancashire responded to their early breakthrough with the ball with a strong first-wicket stand between Smith (26) and teenager Haseeb Hameed. Smith, who made his first championship appearance for more than 12 months last week against Surrey, led the Lancashire response well, with the visitors in a strong position after the first hour.


However, the day turned sour for the Red Rose, as wickets continued to fall regularly and without a great deal of cost to the Yorkshire seamers. First Smith drove Patterson to Gary Ballance at point and then Tim Bresnan had Hameed caught by Lyth at second slip for 17.


Lancashire's third wicket fell for the addition of 13 runs when Luke Procter (6) was trapped lbw by a typically fiery Jack Brooks (2-39), who claimed a wicket either side of lunch to leave the visitors struggling at 68/4. The loss of Alviro Petersen - also lbw to Brooks - suggested that Lancashire were in for an uphill struggle, but few would have predicted that they would then find themselves 92/7 in the afternoon session.


After losing Petersen (8) cheaply, Karl Brown was then out for a duck, edging Patterson to Hodd in attempting to leave the ball, as Lancashire lost their fifth wicket for the addition of just 23 runs. Skipper Steven Croft (14) showed signs of launching a rearguard action alongside Livingstone, but his wicket made the score 91/6 when he edged to Jack Leaning off Bresnan (2-50).


Tom Bailey - who was off the field during Yorkshire's second innings - fell for a six-ball duck when he guided a leg-side bouncer behind to Hodd, with Lancashire now facing the imminent prospect of having to follow on. Thankfully, Livingstone played another crucial innings for Lancashire, reaching fifty for the fourth time this season to guide them beyond the follow on, smashing Adil Rashid out of the ground for a colossal six in doing so.


Livingstone initially found solace from Wagner, as they added 36 runs for the eighth wicket. However, Rashid was responsible for taking all three of Lancashire's remaining wickets, accounting for Wagner with his very first ball of the game. Wagner played across the line and was pinned on the crease after being struck on the front leg, falling for an entertaining 12.


Jarvis was then on hand to offer Livingstone support, helping Lancashire to add 48 runs for the ninth wicket, taking them beyond the follow on and towards a potential batting point. Seven boundaries in an innings of 33 from 28 balls made Jarvis an invaluable contributor, with Livingstone adding seven fours of his own on his way to a 73-ball half-century.


Jarvis failed to resist temptation after enjoying a purple patch against Rashid and was stumped by Hodd at 174/9, coming down the wicket in search of another boundary to the England leg-spinner, who hit a precious 88 to rescue Yorkshire yesterday. Rashid finished the pick of the Yorkshire bowlers, claiming 3-37, as he had Simon Kerrigan (6) out lbw, leaving Livingstone stranded on 60 not out.


After a dejecting first innings, Lancashire need to pick themselves up fast in order to turn the game around, but Yorkshire had no intention of letting their enemies back into the game so easily. Lyth and Alex Lees showed conviction at the top of the order to add 41 runs for the first wicket, navigating a hostile opening spell from Wagner and Jarvis.


Lancashire found their first breakthrough when Smith claimed his first championship wicket for more than 20 months, as he had Lees caught behind by Croft for 17. Smith gave a vastly-improved account with his bowling today, starting with five consecutive maidens to halt Yorkshire's progress and assist Wagner, who continued to plug away with an unfriendly length.


Soon the New-Zealander had a wicket of his own, forcing Leaning to edge to Smith for 4 at 54/2 and Wagner (2-35) struck again two overs later to remove Ballance (8) who edged behind to Croft at 70/3. 

Yorkshire reached stumps without suffering any further setbacks, opting to send Patterson in as night watchman, with Lyth leading the second innings, as he returned to the pavilion unbeaten on 44, helping to extend Yorkshire's lead to 189 runs heading into the third day.