Tykes slip back down the table

SURREY maintained their onepoint lead over Nottinghamshire at the top of the Division One table but Yorkshire are back in the bottom two after both counties dotted the i’s and crossed the t's on a high-scoring Rothesay County Championship draw at Scarborough yesterday.

- By Graham Hardcastle, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Unbeaten champions Surrey’s seventh draw in 10 games yielded 14 bonus points and gives them a slender advantage with four rounds remaining having replied to a first-innings 517 for six declared with 537 all out shortly after lunch.

Yorkshire, meanwhile, have slipped back into the second relegation place with their fourth draw, which yielded 13 points. Essex jumped above them with victory at Sussex. However, Durham are now firmly in the dog fight having lost to Somerset.

Before a ball was bowled on day four, a draw was inevitable. Surrey started on 338 for four and went on to gain three more batting points, with Josh Blake's 72 off 112 balls representing his maiden first-class fifty in his third game.

When the players shook hands at 5.25pm, Yorkshire were 120 for five in their second innings.

Yorkshire captain Jonny Bairstow was absent after his partner Megan went into labour at 5am yesterday morning. Dom Bess took on the captaincy and returned a season’s best seven for 162 with his off-spin.