Yorkshire took the timid option yesterday of pursuing bonus points rather than declaring early and pushing for an innings victory over Lancashire. At lunch, they were 124 ahead and, on a well worn pitch, could have given themselves two sessions to bowl out Lancashire. Instead, they batted on to 400, leaving just 51 overs for their bowlers to chase a win and, although Matthew Hoggard had Iain Sutcliffe caught behind in the first over, Lancashire lost only three wickets. Sutcliffe announced his retirement after the match to pursue a career outside the game.

Perhaps Yorkshire's decision not to declare at lunch reflected the low confidence of a side who had lost four of their previous five games. The points from this draw have lifted them to sixth in the table and that extra bonus point may come in handy at the end of the season.

But Francois du Plessis, Lancashire's part-time leg spinner, had made the ball bounce and turn at the Brian Statham End, from which Adil Rashid took five wickets in the first innings.

With Lancashire's batsmen at a low ebb, Rashid must have been rubbing his hands at the prospect of bowling again and, even if the victory had not been achieved, Yorkshire were in no danger of losing the game.

Martyn Moxon, the Yorkshire director of cricket, said that the loss of wickets in the morning session, which had slowed their scoring-rate, meant that they felt they were not far enough ahead.

If they are this tentative in a position of strength, it is difficult to see how they can summon confidence in times of adversity.

The draw certainly came as a relief to Lancashire, who, despite their lamentable recent form, have risen to fourth place in a county championship that is still wide open. Paul Horton provided their second-innings resistance with the bat, holding firm for an unbeaten 69.

Lancashire had not looked quite so secure when they lost three wickets in the first ten overs. After Hoggard had dismissed Sutcliffe, Stuart Law chipped Tim Bresnan to mid-on and Rashid bowled Du Plessis with his third ball, a googly. But Horton then found a durable ally in Lou Vincent, who faced 93 balls for his 13.

Yorkshire were ultimately left to regret the loss of the first day to rain and their slow progress with the bat. But after the woeful recent form of both sides, the draw was a welcome result for all.

First division

Lancashire v Yorkshire

Old Trafford (final day of four): Lancashire (7pts) drew with Yorkshire (12)

Lancashire: First Innings 231 (S J Croft 68; A U Rashid 5 for 95)

Second Innings

I J Sutcliffe c Brophy b Hoggard 4
P J Horton not out 69
*S G Law c Gough b Bresnan 4
F du Plessis b Rashid 3
L Vincent not out 13

Extras (b 2, lb 7, nb 2) 11

Total (3 wkts, 42 overs) 104

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-23, 3-29.

Bowling: Hoggard 4-0-17-1; Bresnan 4-1-7-1; Rudolph 4-0-15-0; Rashid 16-6-16-1; Lyth 7-2-22-0; Naved 4-0-11-0; Gough 3-1-7-0.

Yorkshire: First Innings (overnight 234-2)

A W Gale c Chapple b Du Plessis 136
J A Rudolph c Sutton b Du Plessis 54
A Lyth run out 1
T T Bresnan not out 47
G L Brophy st Sutton b Keedy 14
A U Rashid not out 15

Extras (b 16, lb 11, w 1, nb 4) 32

Total (6 wkts dec, 128.5 overs) 400

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, *D Gough and M J Hoggard did not bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-219, 3-306, 4-312, 5-318, 6-349.

Bowling: Chapple 21-6-52-0; Cork 12-2-26-1; Keedy 48.5-7-142-1; Mahmood 12-0-42-0; Du Plessis 21-3-61-3; Croft 14-2-50-0.

Umpires: G I Burgess and A A Jones.