Day 2: Wells finds Yorkshire all at sea
By Andrew Collomosse at Headingley
Second day of four: Yorks (25-0) trail Leics (353-9dec) by 328 runs
FOR the second time in as many years, Vince Wells demonstrated a seemingly insatiable appetite for Yorkshire bowling.
After a day had been lost to the weather there was little chance that Wells would have time to repeat the double century that underpinned Leicester's 681 for eight declared at Bradford on their last visit to White Rose territory. But his second century of the season enabled them to end the second day on top after being invited to bat by David Byas.
The early loss of Darren Maddy, yorked by Paul Hutchison on a pitch offering plenty of encouragement to the seamers, suggested Byas had made the right decision, a view reinforced by the departure of Iain Sutcliffe, Ben Smith and Aftab Habib before lunch with only 116 on the board.
Initially Wells, missed on 44 by Byas at second slip, combined flashing strokeplay with a series of near misses against an attack that lapsed into mediocrity. But after adding 53 for the fifth wicket with Phil Simmons he was content to play second fiddle in a sixth-wicket partnership of 90 with Paul Nixon.
Wells, who added only 20 in 90 minutes after reaching three figures, emerged from his shell to strike successive boundaries off Craig White. But perished six short of his 150 when he chopped Richard Stemp on to his wicket to end a 328-minute stay that included one six and 19 fours from 257 deliveries.
With Australian Darren Lehmann ruled out with a back injury, Yorkshire's only concern was survival after Chris Lewis declared with 35 minutes left.
Day 3: Byas aided by a little home help
By Andrew Collomosse at Headingley
Third day of four: Leics (353-9 dec & 78-2) lead Yorks (273-3 dec) by 158 runs
DAVID BYAS reckons his side are more than a match for anyone at home these days, a reflection of the Yorkshire captain's own prowess at Headingley.
Byas has scored a century in each of the three championship games played at Leeds this season, completing his hat-trick against Leicestershire before declaring 80 runs behind.
He will not recall his 116 from 227 deliveries as one of the more fluent of his 23 first-class hundreds, though. He was missed twice, a sitter to Alan Mullally at mid-off on 25 and a sharp chance to the diving Phil Simmons at second slip on 40, after which he fashioned a typically no-nonsense century.
Chris Lewis removed Anthony McGrath in the third over, well caught by Darren Maddy at second slip after which Byas and Michael Vaughan added 114 in 43 overs before Vaughan played back to Brimson when he should have been forward and was leg before for 77 from 170 balls with nine fours.
Matthew Wood then joined Byas in a third-wicket stand which confirmed the Huddersfield youngster's growing reputation and had yielded 129 in 38 overs when Byas was caught and bowled by Brimson after a 284minute stay.
When Leicester batted again, Paul Hutchison removed Maddy cheaply for the second time and Yorkshire enjoyed the rare sight of Vince Wells departing with less than 100 to his name after edging Craig White to Richard Blakey.
Day 4: No play due to rain.