Root just short of landmark as Yorkshire give themselves a chance

England star Joe Root cruised to 96 but fell short of a 12th first-class century for Yorkshire in the hosts' strong response to Sussex’s first-innings 502 on day three of the Rothesay County Championship fixture which looks likely but not certain to finish in a draw at Headingley.

Sussex had started the season with back-to-back wins and Yorkshire a draw and defeat. But neither bowling attack has looked likely to penetrate high-class batting line-ups on a placid pitch.

Yorkshire, having started day three on 192 for one, were bowled out for 511, claiming a lead of nine with 14 overs left in the day.

They lost opener Fin Bean for 105 early on before fellow left-hander Sam Whiteman converted an overnight 73 into a determined 101, his maiden century for the county he joined in the winter. Sussex’s second innings closed on 31 for two, giving Yorkshire a glimmer of hope. The visiting lead is 22.

Root came in at 199 for two in the day’s fifth over and hit 12 fours in 127 balls before edging fast bowler Henry Crocombe behind during the latter stages of the afternoon session.

Sussex struck three times in the morning, with Yorkshire 300 for four at lunch.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice’s seam angled one back into left-handed Bean and trapped him lbw for the addition of only four more runs to his overnight tally.

The left-arm spin of James Coles, who later took the second new ball, bowled Jonny Bairstow through the gate for six, uprooting his middle-stump.

Sandwiched in between, Whiteman was caught behind off Crocombe.

Yorkshire-born Western Australia captain Whiteman, playing for his birth county as a local for the next three seasons, had reached his century with a drilled straight six off Coles, getting there off 188 balls.

Root was at ease against seam and spin, including emerging twirler Coles and his former seam-bowling England team-mate Ollie Robinson.

It looked inevitable for much of his innings that he would reach three figures.

This was his first first-class innings in 109 days since his second innings of January’s Ashes Test Match at Sydney, and it was also his fifth 50-plus score in seven Championship innings for Yorkshire dating back two years to the day.

Sussex plugged away for reward in benign conditions. Without ever looking like blowing Yorkshire away, they chipped away and claimed wickets at regular intervals.

In fairness, they were a bowler light having lost seam-bowling all-rounder Tom Price to a sprained right ankle which he suffered whilst fielding the day’s second delivery at deep backward square-leg.

The visitors opted not to utilise the ECB’s substitution rule, but he was off the field all day.

Root reached his fifty off 59 balls before lunch and was within touching distance of raising his bat once more when Crocombe got one to bounce more than expected, with the England man feeling for it outside off-stump and edging behind to John Simpson. In all, he hit 12 fours.

With Matthew Revis having earlier fallen to Coles - he and Root shared a fifth-wicket 86 - Yorkshire were 395 for six during the second half of the afternoon.

Dom Bess was trapped lbw by the miserly medium pace of Tom Haines before George Hill, who posted 50, chipped Jack Carson’s off-spin to midwicket - Yorkshire were 457 for eight at tea.

Yorkshire’s overseas quicks Logan van Beek and Jhye Richardson then contributed 29 and 35 respectively - they shared a ninth-wicket 49 - to help their side into the lead.

Van Beek edged Crocombe behind and Richardson was bowled attacking at Coles.

Both bowlers finished with three wickets before Australian Richardson, who struggled with the ball at the start of the game, bowled compatriot Daniel Hughes with a beauty in the third over the Sussex second innings.

Haines then chipped a return catch to Hill just before close, setting up an interesting fourth morning at least.

Yorkshire batter Sam Whiteman said: “To score my first hundred, especially at home, for Yorkshire was special. It’s still a nice wicket, but I felt good out there.

“(Bringing up hundred with a six off Coles) The spinner was on, and if it’s up there you might as well go for it. Luckily, it came out of the middle.

“Joe sort of got to 40 without you even realising. He’s super-impressive, and it probably shows why he’s going to pass Sachin’s Test record in a year or two’s time.

“If we drew things up this morning, we’d probably be batting the whole day and a bit into tomorrow. But, had we done that, we wouldn’t have got a couple of wickets and apply a bit of pressure tonight.

“Look, you never know. It’s a pretty good wicket, but when there’s pressure on funny things happen in first-class cricket. A couple of quick ones in the morning and you never know where the day will end up.”

Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace said: (re Tom Price injury) “He’s twisted his ankle, but it’s the first time I’ve ever seen anyone twist an ankle doing a long barrier. When they did that at Under 13s level, he must have had a week off that week. He’ll be ok.

“It’s been a decent day’s cricket. It obviously adds a bit of excitement us losing two wickets at the end. One was an excellent delivery which got rid of Daniel Hughes, and Tom Haines will be a bit disappointed to get out the way he did.

“One or two of our young batters who have aspirations to play international cricket got to watch Rooty close up, how he scores off good balls and punishes the bad ones.

“So far, both teams will be delighted with the way they’ve played.

“There’s still a little bit in the pitch. The odd one’s kept low and there’s a bit of turn for the spinners. We’re going to have to bat well tomorrow morning.”