Yorkshire off the foot of the table but fail to make home advantage count

Match Drawn Yorkshire 13 points, Sussex 13 points

Tom Clark posted a composed 93 either side of lunch on day four and batted Sussex to the safety of a Rothesay County Championship draw against Yorkshire at Headingley.

Both sides topped 500 in their first innings - Sussex 502 and Yorkshire 511 - before the former closed day three on 31 for two second time around.

That became 44 for three, with the lead only 35, early on day four before Clark and James Coles quickly changed the complexion of things with a fourth-wicket 108 partnership.

Coles was more dynamic but fell for 53 off 60 balls before lunch. Left-handed Clark continued into the afternoon and underpinned his side’s 324 for eight from 86, a lead of 315. Joe Root’s off-spin impressed with three for 67 from 21 overs.

When bad light ended play just before 4.30pm, the result ratified not long afterwards, both sides claimed 13 points. This was Yorkshire’s second draw added to a defeat and Sussex’s first draw added to two wins.

George Hill struck with only his second ball during the early stages of day four, a full ball trapping nightwatchman Jack Carson lbw.

That brought Clark, who finished with 16 fours in 177 balls, and England Lion Coles together.

Here is a player in Clark who clearly likes batting in the month of April. He has scored three of his five career Championship centuries in the summer’s opening month dating back to his first in 2022.

Unfortunately for the 24-year-old, he was stopped just short of another by Root, caught behind during the first half of the afternoon as the score fell to 224 for five, a lead of 215.

In England Lions all-rounder Coles, we were watching one of the most talked about young players in the country after his recent £390,000 pick by London Spirit in The Hundred.

Coles counter-attacked and was punishing on anything which erred in length - either full or short. One on-driven boundary against Hill was as good as any shot across the four days played out on a benign pitch, while he later viciously pulled the other morning wicket-taker Jhye Richardson.

Australian Test quick Richardson struggled for rhythm in this match and leaked runs in both innings. But he did bowl Daniel Hughes with a beauty late on day three and bowled Coles just before lunch on day four as the batter advanced down the pitch towards the off-side and was undone looking to hit to leg.

That left Sussex at 152 for four just before lunch, a lead of 146.

Clark had reached his fifty first off 108 balls and Coles shortly afterwards off 52.

Yorkshire employed spin from both ends for the majority of the afternoon in Root and fellow offie Dom Bess, and they had success as Sussex fell to 234 for seven with a little over 45 overs remaining in the day - a lead of 225.

Clark’s departure was followed by Jack Leaning brilliantly caught one-handed at slip by Hill off Bess, the catcher anticipating a reverse sweep. Root then flattened first-innings centurion John Simpson’s off-stump for only six.

While Yorkshire had their tails up, Sussex had time very much on their side.

Root had Tom Price caught at backward point - 252 for eight. Price was batting with a runner following the ankle injury he suffered fielding at the start of day three.

Sussex reached tea at 272 for eight leading by 263 with 32 overs remaining, and their task of batting for survival had been all but rubber-stamped.

Root bowled with the new ball after tea, the game now drifting. Sussex captain Ollie Robinson finished unbeaten on 41.

Yorkshire head coach Anthony McGrath said: “I thought it was a good performance. The pitch probably didn't do as much as we thought throughout the game, but I thought it was still a very good cricket wicket.

“We knew bowling first there was probably going to be more in it, as there always is at Headingley.

“We had them 150-5, there were a couple of big shouts. So, yeah, we just couldn't make that breakthrough. Then, on flatter surfaces, I think you've got to try different things to get wickets. We probably leaked more runs and didn't quite get it right on that first day, which can happen.

“But it was nice for our guys to get some runs on the board and bat big. Then, I thought we were brilliant in the second innings. Two wickets last night, and we were fantastic today. We were always looking at ways to try and give ourselves some kind of chase and win. Time just got us in the end.

“Joe’s one of the best to ever play. If you get him in your team, it's something to be treasured. I know he's worked hard this week in the nets. But, to come in and bat for the first time in a few months like that and then bowl like that as well, just shows his appetite for the game.”

Sussex captain Ollie Robinson said: “I think it’s a good result for us in the end. It was a hard-fought four days from both sides. One thousand runs in two days, it’s quite taxing on the bowlers. Both teams battled until the end.

“Tom Clark played really well for us today to get us to over the line for a draw.

“It was quite a nervy first session this morning and 15 or so overs last night. So it was good to get over the line and get the draw, really.

“There were probably a few half chances that we just missed in the field or didn’t quite get right with the ball. Maybe they could have swung the game the other way. But, all in all, it was a steady week for us.

“Tom Price was outstanding with the bat (in the first innings), and John Simpson was back to his best, which is good to see. It just shows what a good side we are at the minute. It doesn’t matter who is out there, they’re all producing and helping the team out.”