County Championship: Bairstow and Gale tons boost Yorkshire

Jonny Bairstow made his debut for Yorkshire in 2009

Jonny Bairstow continued his fine form for Yorkshire with a magnificent hundred to put his side in control against Worcestershire at Scarborough.

The wicketkeeper smashed 139, his fifth Championship century this summer, as he shared a fourth-wicket stand of 254 with captain Andrew Gale (127 not out).

Joe Leach had earlier taken three wickets to reduce the hosts to 57-3.

Once Bairstow was caught by Tom Fell off spinner Brett D'Oliveira late on, Gale saw his side to 357-5 at stumps.

Bairstow's knock, which came off 183 balls and included 18 fours and one six, means he has now scored 906 runs at an average of 100.66 in the County Championship this season.

While Gale's innings was less attacking, it was just as crucial in helping Yorkshire bounce back from a first morning which belonged to the visitors.

Leach, who has enjoyed a good season with both bat and ball for Worcestershire, bowled an excellent line and length to remove openers Will Rhodes and Alex Lees, both caught at slip by Ross Whiteley.

The 24-year-old then trapped Jack Leaning lbw before Bairstow and Gale steadied things to take the reigning county champions to lunch on 85-3.

The afternoon was completely dominated by the batsmen, as Bairstow brought up his 16th first-class ton off 112 balls in a session which saw 143 runs scored.

After tea, Gale brought up his hundred with a pull shot off Saeed Ajmal and the pair had just extended their stand beyond 250 when Bairstow slapped D'Oliveira to Fell at backward point.

Ajmal soon removed Adil Rashid cheaply, caught at slip, but Gale and Tim Bresnan remained untroubled for the final few overs of the first day.

Yorkshire batsman Jonny Bairstow:

"I should have more than the 906 runs I have this season because it was a stupid way to get out today.

"I cannot put my good form down to doing any one specific thing different from last season. I am feeling good, but you are always just one ball away from a nick and getting caught.

"It is a time to get behind the [England] lads. Only a week ago the fans were getting right behind them at Cardiff and they can be very fickle.

"They should now be getting behind the boys at Edgbaston and it would be wrong as a nation not to do so."