By Stephen Thorpe at Worcester
First day of four: Yorkshire 398-4 v Worcs
WORCESTERSHIRE have not played a championship game at New Road for a month and after Yorkshire racked up an impressive 398 for four with power to add, they were no doubt yearning for even longer in absentia.
Wasim Akram, the Lancashire captain, remarked that Worcestershire had lost at Lytham recently because they were a bowler short. Here, Alamgir Sheriyar is still indisposed with sore feet while Tom Moody, the captain, has a back spasm problem which allowed some gentle off-spin only late in the day.
Nothing should detract, however, from a near-flawless, punishing double hundred from Darren Lehmann, a career-best for Yorkshire and his third championship century of the season in five innings, which thoroughly flattened a labouring attack.
The South Australian left-hander, hampered initially by a knock on the knee requiring lunchtime treatment, shared a third-wicket stand of 236 in 53 overs with Matthew Wood, and was eventually caught behind after 28 fours and two sixes in a magnificent 269-ball effort.
Wood, 21, rated one of the best prospects in the country by Peter Sleep, the Lancashire second XI coach, made two hundreds and a brace of fifties in his first four matches at Headingley and his 94 yesterday, featuring 17 fours, was his highest score outside the Broad Acres. The youngster was far from overshadowed by his illustrious partner, his placement through cover off the spinners impressive, before he cut at Graeme Hick.
Yorkshire had been largely untroubled, if circumspect, after electing to bat on a dry strip then suddenly both openers were gone, undermined possibly by a light drizzle which freshened the surface.
Stuart Lampitt nipped it around off the seam and David Byas edged a comfortable catch to slip, then Michael Vaughan, of whom great things were expected, was trapped in front by Bobby Chapman.
Vikram Solanki and Richard Illingworth were both hoisted for straight sixes before Lehmann launched into a series of scything square cuts off Chapman.
The ground was a picture, of course, but who on earth has decreed that the quaint old scorebox should be scarred by the sponsor's logo? If nothing is sacred then another historic edifice nearby is ripe for defacement - a flying buttress on the cathedral could easily accommodate a couple more.
Day 2: Hutchison rediscovers touch
By Stephen Thorpe at Worcester
Second day of four: Worcs (145-7) trail Yorks (455-9 dec) by 310 runs
WELCOME back Paul Hutchison. Yorkshire's left-arm seamer burst on the scene last year but has largely failed to recapture the zestful swing which briefly saw him topping the national averages.
Worcestershire, still needing 161 to make Yorkshire bat again with three wickets standing, felt the full force yesterday, losing their top three batsmen as Hutchison reeled off 16 overs from the Diglis End for three for 38, figures that would have been significantly better had David Byas, at second slip, and Richard Blakey, the wicketkeeper, held difficult chances.
The track is still flat, so it was perplexing when Yorkshire lost five wickets for the addition of only 57 runs at the outset and Worcestershire were cock-a-hoop after their first-day mauling. Their openers caught the mood too, and there were glimmers of the exuberant fare of the opening exchange until Hutchison took charge on the hour.
Worcestershire later enjoyed a slight reprieve at tea when a rain squall cost 15 overs before bad light ushered in the close.
Elliott Wilson, a Felsted School and Durham University student, is making his championship debut after 61 against the Sri Lankans on Tuesday, replacing Abdul Hafeez as opener and finishing with six fours in a top score of 25. The 21-year-old right-hander has been snapped up on a summer contract after representing Essex second XI. Having eased Hutchison for three boundaries in the over prior to lunch, he declined full sustenance and went to the nets to feed on the bowling machine.
Eager to pull, the shot eventually brought his downfall, Michael Vaughan clutching a miscue at short midwicket off Hutchison whose next ball hit Phil Weston plumb in front.
Graeme Hick did not tarry, either, skewering Hutchison to Darren Gough at cover point, then Gavin Hamilton's brisk medium pace accounted for Vikram Solanki, shouldering arms, and Tom Moody was well held by a sprawling Matthew Wood at point.
Worcestershire needed to make early inroads in the morning if Yorkshire's overnight 398 for four was not to translate into something gargantuan, and the bowlers duly obliged. The seamers ran in with far more purpose and Anthony McGrath, having added five to his first day's 45, was trapped in front by Bobby Chapman before Phil Newport clipped nightwatchman's Hutchison's leg stump.
Yorkshire's advance was further retarded when Blakey was bowled pushing forward at Newport then Gough nicked one that bounced from Stuart Lampitt.
Hamilton, who will probably fill an all-rounder's role for Scotland in next year's World Cup, has suddenly flourished with the bat after 70s against Kent and Middlesex, and struck several useful blows despite a broken little toe sustained at Lord's last Sunday. James Middlebrook finally made his mark too, after a pair on his championship debut, taking 12 balls for his first run before the declaration.
Worcestershire supporters, however, optimistically perhaps in view of this setback, are not discounting a stake in the final championship reckoning. With two games in hand on the leaders Surrey, they will take heart from their late charge last season which earned a creditable third place.
Day 4: Gough hits top form in run-up to decider
By Stephen Thorpe at Worcester
No third day's report
Yorkshire (455-9 dec) bt Worcestershire (201 & 94) by an innings and 160 runs
YORKSHIRE are on a roll. A crushing victory at New Road, where Worcestershire lost eight wickets in only 35.5 overs, raised them to joint third in the table and maintained their healthy interest in the championship. More significantly, Darren Gough seems primed for the Test series showdown on his home patch on Thursday after a decisive three for eight in 15 balls, following a four-for-four spell in the AXA League on Sunday.
The England spearhead finished with five for 36 and had the perfect foil in Gavin Hamilton, who also contributed a season's best of four for 17. Yorkshire's clash with the leaders Surrey at Headingley in a month may yet be decisive.
Heavy morning rain delayed the start but the pitch bore up well and when a strong breeze dried out the square, 51 overs were possible from 2.30pm beneath scudding grey clouds.
Graeme Hick announced his intent from the off, dispatching James Middlebrook's first ball through extra cover then pulling Gough effortlessly through mid-wicket when he dropped short. Conflict between the two England colleagues was always destined to be riveting stuff, of course, and more's the pity it was so short-lived. Gough, indeed, drew blood in his next over with another dug in short which Hick, rocking back, slashed low to cover point where Middlebrook clung on brilliantly.
Hick stood stock still, incredulous, seven short of 1,000 first-class runs for the season but more concerned, no doubt, at his lack of batting practice before Thursday. The newly capped Vikram Solanki went immediately, then Gough upped a gear at the sight of another potential stumbling block, Tom Moody, the Worcestershire captain.
Darren Lehmann, standing perilously close at third slip as Gough roared in, had earlier failed to lay a hand on a thick edge which flew past his right shoulder, but calmly snaffled the next throat-high. Stuart Lampitt, meanwhile, nightwatchman and immovable object, waited in vain for a stolid partner as Worcestershire limped to tea. David Leatherdale, the first of three Bradford-born men, briefly threatened to provide it, but when Hamilton trapped him lbw shouldering arms for 30, and Steve Rhodes fell caught behind next ball, the writing was writ large.
Yorkshire have a well- balanced, energetic attack and David Byas, the captain, utilised his resources well, rotating Gough, Hamilton, a vastly improved performer with seven for 37 in the match, and Paul Hutchison in short bursts to attacking fields, and tying up the New Road end with the left-arm spin of Richard Stemp (one for three in nine overs).
Richard Illingworth's hamstring strain required a runner, who was never out of the blocks as Middlebrook held his second fine catch off a steer to gully, then Lampitt's vigil of nearly two-and-a-half hours ended when he sportingly walked having nicked a sharp turner from Stemp to the wicketkeeper.
Worcestershire pleaded to the heavens when the cloud canopy lowered and a blustery drizzle recommenced, and Byas immediately beckoned Gough to apply the coup de grÅce. Phil Newport, however, kowtows to no one and offered a dutifully straight bat, forcing Gough to resort to the bouncer. Belatedly came the yorker, the umpire's finger for lbw, and Newport pointedly gazing at his inside edge.