Gillespie sets target as time starts to run out

The White Rose county had to settle for just seven points from a rain affected draw at Northamptonshire, their 10th stalemate of this most sodden of summers.

For once, the intervention of the weather – a downpour just after lunch on Saturday having brought an abrupt end to proceedings – helped Yorkshire, who had been struggling on 74-3 when the heavens opened.

Even so, there can be little argument that time is now starting to run out for Andrew Gale’s side, who have just four games remaining as opposed to the five that their main rivals for a place in the top still have to play.

Hence why Gillespie believes a trio of wins from the final quarter of the LV=County Championship campaign may well be needed to keep alive any hopes of bouncing back from last year’s relegation at the first attempt.

“We have four games left and we need to win three of those,” said the first team coach after a draw at Northampton together with Kent losing to Derbyshire yesterday left Yorkshire in second place with an advantage of just five points.

“All four would be perfect, of course. But we do need some wins. We will be going out to play some positive cricket, that’s for sure.

“We are confident that we have the quality to challenge all teams and put ourselves in the position to win games. But we need good weather. All we ask is for full games, or at least the best part of them.

“We want to be promoted, that has been our big goal all season. And I believe we have the team to be successful.

“But what we can’t do is worry about other results. That is out of our hands so worrying about others would be totally pointless.

“All we must concentrate on is that when we get opportunities, we have to take them. Against Northamptonshire, we didn’t quite do that and we have no-one to blame but ourselves.”

For the four days that Yorkshire spent toiling in between the showers in Northampton, Wantage Road felt just about as far removed as is surely possible from the sporting drama that has been captivating the nation not only at London 2012 but also closer to home at Headingley in the second Test.

That is not to say there were not examples of sporting excellence with Adil Rashid making a welcome return to form with his first five wicket haul since April last year and David Willey enjoying an impressive game for the hosts with both bat and ball.

But, in terms of the type of drama that is capable of quickening the pulse among spectators, Northamptonshire was not the place to be during a rain-affected four days.

A total of 136.2 overs were lost 
to the weather, including 61 on the final day as the home side were left thwarted after enjoying by far the better of the morning session.

With Yorkshire resuming on five without loss and needing 98 runs to make Northamptonshire bat for a second time, clear heads were called for along with a determination and resolve that had been sorely lacking in a first innings 249 all out.

Instead, what the White Rose county produced was another worryingly lacklustre batting display as three wickets fell and just 62 runs were added in the two hours to lunch.

Neat and tidy bowling from Northamptonshire did play its part, most notably in the final 15 or so minutes before lunch when the visitors went 46 deliveries without adding a run.

But, even so, Yorkshire will have to perform much better in the final quarter of the Championship season if they are to come even close to claiming the trio of wins Gillespie feels may be needed to clinch promotion.

He said: “We didn’t play the cricket against Northamptonshire that we know we can play. We have acknowledged that.

“Again, the weather played a part but they outplayed us, no doubt about that. We played well in parts but had a 100 plus partnership in the first innings and only one other 30-odd partnership. That was disappointing.

“But, as I have stressed to the lads, I was pleased with their positive attitude and intent with the bat. It just didn’t come off.”

The play that was possible on Saturday before a short but heavy downpour led to the captains shaking hands at 2.07pm had pretty much epitomised the game as a whole.

Northamptonshire, chasing a victory that would have propelled them firmly back into the promotion race, seized the initiative in the ninth over of the day when Adam Lyth fended a short delivery off Olly Stone to Kyle Coetzer at cover point.

Just 23 runs had been added to the overnight total but, with nine wickets in hand, Yorkshire were still some way from being in trouble.

By lunch, however, that was no longer the case with Phil Jaques and Joe Root both having succumbed.

James Middlesbrook accounted for Jaques with a sublime delivery to find a way through the Australian’s normally reliable defence, the former Yorkshire spinner claiming his 400th first-class wicket in the process.

Root, meanwhile, edged Willey to Stephen Peters at second slip to leave the visitors deep in the mire by the interval.

Unfortunately for Northamptonshire, only 10 more minutes play was possible in the afternoon before the distant rumbles of thunder turned into a spectacular downpour that soon led to the outfield being covered in puddles.

Any hopes the hosts had of forcing a result were over to leave Yorkshire, for once, grateful at yet another intervention by the weather.

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