Yorkshire thrash Gloucestershire to clinch first win
Conor McKerr joined Yorkshire from Surrey on a five-match loan deal on 8 June
- Published
Vitality County Championship D2, Scarborough (day three)
Yorkshire 456: Bean 164, Lyth 129, Hill 45; Singh Dale 3-70
Gloucestershire 197: O. Price 47; Revis 3-30, Thompson 3-37 & 237: Akhter 70; Hill 3-43, McKerr 3-48
Yorkshire (22 pts) beat Gloucestershire (2 pts) by an innings and 22 runs
Yorkshire claimed their first County Championship win of the season after securing an innings-and-22-run victory over Gloucestershire inside three days at Scarborough.
At the eighth attempt, the White Rose took 13 wickets on day three to record a 22-point haul and breathe life into a promotion push which has struggled to get out of the blocks since being labelled as Division Two title favourites in April.
Gloucestershire, replying to 456, started the day on 168-7 in their first innings and were made to follow-on 259 runs in arrears having been bowled out for 197.
The visitors, who suffered their second defeat in eight, started their second innings at midday and were bowled out for 237 after tea, with seamer Zaman Akhter hitting a consolatory career-best 70.
Despite losing Ben Charlesworth, bowled by Vishwa Fernando in the second over, Gloucestershire made an encouraging start to their second innings.
They reached 55-1 thanks to Cameron Bancroft and Ollie Price, who were in determined mood.
But Price, Bancroft and James Bracey all fell in the space of five afternoon overs, leaving the score at 73-4 in the 28th over.
When captain Graeme van Buuren edged a drive behind at Jordan Thompson, the writing was on the wall for Gloucestershire.
On-loan Surrey fast bowler Conor McKerr, making his Championship debut for Yorkshire, struck twice in two balls late in the afternoon to get Miles Hammond caught at leg-slip off a gloved pull and Ed Middleton caught at second slip.
George Hill claimed the seventh wicket of the afternoon in its closing stages, Beau Webster caught behind for 30.
Akhter gave the visitors some cheer with three sixes off Dom Bess’ off-spin, sharing 58 for the ninth wicket with Dom Goodman – who made an unbeaten 38 – to hold things up before being bowled by Hill.
McKerr then had Ajeet Singh Dale caught behind down leg to seal victory.
Report supplied by the ECB Reporters' Network.
Yorkshire coach Ottis Gibson told BBC Radio Leeds:
“It’s a big moment and a proud moment too. We’ve had our ups and downs all season, so it was really pleasing to get across the line in this game.
“From the first day, losing the toss and being put in, the way Adam (Lyth) and Finlay (Bean) batted set the tone. Scoring 340 on the first day when you’ve been inserted is a great day.
“The only session we lost was the first one on day two. We let ourselves down, losing seven for 87. But we backed it up with the ball and (Conor) McKerr added a different dimension to our attack.
"It was almost fitting that he got the last wicket. He bowled really well. He’s done himself the world of good.”
Gloucestershire coach Mark Alleyne:
“The best way to win a four-day game is to try and get your first 10 wickets as quickly as possible and set it up from there.
"We knew it was a Yorkshire batting line-up missing a lot of experience, and we wanted to take advantage.
“But that initial breakthrough never came until tea-time (on day one). I didn’t think there was anything wrong with the pitch. All the bowlers executed really well. They swung the ball consistently.
"Maybe after two weeks of T20 cricket when the ball doesn’t go off the straight, that change is quite difficult. Our guys tried hard and got stuck in, but Yorkshire kept coming.”