Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire: Adam Lyth ton puts visitors on top

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Adam Lyth celebrates his centuryImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Lyth has now scored 1,428 runs this season in the Championship

LV= County Championship Division One, Trent Bridge

Close, day one: Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire 319-4

Yorkshire 3 pts, Nottinghamshire 1 pt,

Adam Lyth's century helped put title-chasing Yorkshire in a strong position over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Lyth (122), dropped by Chris Read off the second ball of the day, put on 176 with fellow opener Alex Lees (86).

Gary Keedy (2-93) took two wickets for Notts as the visitors slightly lost their way from 271-1 to 298-4.

Michael Lumb took a stunning one-handed catch to get rid of Jonny Bairstow, but Gary Ballance's unbeaten 82 ensured that the Tykes ended strongly on 319-4.

With no international commitments, both title challengers were able to call on their England players - and Yorkshire are being skippered by Joe Root, with Andrew Gale serving a two-match ban.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Gary Ballance ended day one on 82 not out

Luke Fletcher enticed the edge of Lyth in the first over but a difficult full-length diving chance was put down by Read.

In a match which secure Yorkshire the Division One title if they win, Lees and Lyth went on to see the visitors unharmed through the first session as they reached lunch on 118-0.

Their fourth century partnership of the season was finally broken by Keedy, who became only the second bowler to reach 500 Division One wickets when he had Lees well caught at short leg by Riki Wessels.

Lyth went on to score his sixth Championship ton of the season, before being smartly taken by Keedy off his own bowling.

It was the start of three quick wickets for Notts, with two of them coming with the new ball.

Root was trapped leg before by Gurney for 11 and Bairstow quickly followed for only two, with Lumb's stunning catch in the gully one of the highlights of the day for Notts, who need victory to keep their own slim title hopes alive.

How it could all pan out in Division One

If Yorkshire beat Nottinghamshire this week, they will be county champions. It is also possible that if the game ends in a draw and Warwickshire don't win, that they could be champions if they pick up enough bonus points.

Division One leaders Yorkshire began this week on 223 points. They now have 226 - and can still get a maximum of 271.

Second-placed Notts began this week on 197 points. They can still get a maximum of 245, but they must take five Tykes wickets in 14 overs on Wednesday morning if they are to claim full bowling points.

Third-placed Warwickshire began this week on 190 points and can still get a maximum of 238.

Notts spinner Gary Keedy:

"It was a tough day. Losing the toss didn't go to plan but sometimes you've got to accept that and get stuck in, which I thought we did.

"A couple of chances went down early on, which didn't help, but the way we clawed it back was a great credit to us.

"We can still bowl them out for under 400 if we have a crazy half hour in the morning."

Yorkshire head coach Jason Gillespie:

"The two openers have given us a great platform. I'm very pleased with how the day has gone.

"Adam Lyth has been in great form recently and is definitely good enough to go on and play for England."

BBC Radio Nottingham's Dave Bracegirdle:

"Nottinghamshire can take great pride for their level of performance throughout the day.

"To see the openers put on 176, after both were dropped in the early stages, could have been disastrous.

"But their lion-hearted approach to the last hour of the day wrested the initiative back from the visitors, who haven't gained sufficient daylight to begin celebrating just yet."

BBC Radio Leeds' Dave Callaghan:

"Yorkshire are still in a great position to win the title after a 13-year wait.

"They had the better of the first day at Trent Bridge, with coach Jason Gillespie full of praise for the in-form opening pair of Lyth and Lees.

"Notts hit back well in the final session to take the wickets of Root and Bairstow."

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