Headingley Carnegie

(day three of four; Yorkshire won toss)

Yorkshire 299. Nottinghamshire 356 for six (CMW Read 115*, GP Swann 68, SCJ Broad 52*)

Lunch

Matthew Hoggard took his second wicket of the innings in the last over before lunch, plucking out Samit Patel’s off stump as the batsman obligingly shouldered arms. Yorkshire are now in a strong position and Nottinghamshire need a substantial partnership, their best hopes resting with Mark Wagh, who has played comfortably on this slow pitch for an unbeaten 40.

Yorkshire supporters have had a first sighting of Morne Morkel, the South Afica fast bowler who is their new overseas player. Morkel is tall and fast, generating the sort of bounce that perhaps only Stephen Harmison among English bowlers can emulate. He took his first wicket for Yorkshire when Adam Voges was caught behind down the leg-side.

Tea

The substantial partnership that Nottinghamshire needed has come from Chris Read and Graeme Swann, who have added 118 to bring their side firmly back into the game. Both have made enterprising half-centuries, playing more freely than anyone else has managed so far on this slow pitch.

Swann has been the most aggressive, especially towards Adil Rashid, a potential rival as a spin-bowling all-rounder for England. Making his intentions immediately clear, Swann danced down the pitch to drive Rashid straight for six twice. He completed his half-century from 57 balls, with three sixes and four fours, while Read took 80 balls to reach fifty. Nottinghamshire can now contemplate the possibility of moving towards a first-innings lead.

Close

Nottinghamshire are now firmly in control of this game, thanks to a fine hundred from Chris Read, their new captain. Read reached his 12th first-class century from 168 balls, driving Tim Bresnan through the off-side for his 12th four. Yorkshire’s bowlers have struggled as the pitch has flattened out, all the more so since Morne Morkel, the South Africa fast bowler who is making his debut, limped out of the attack with a strained hamstring.

Graeme Swann was leg-before to Anthony McGrath for an excellent 68 and Stuart Broad has provided good support for Read with 52 not out. The seventh-wicket pair have so far added an unbroken 105.

A combination of rain delays and a slow pitch mean that the draw is still the most likely result, but Nottinghamshire will entertain hopes of a push for victory later tomorrow.

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