Duke digs in as Tykes left reeling following collapse

Well done: Harry Duke, left, is congratulated on his Roses half-century by Yorkshire captain Steve Patterson. Picture: John Heald

New ball seamer Bailey was superb as Yorkshire were bowled out for 159 at tea in front of Emirates Old Trafford’s first first-team crowd for 617 days of approximately 2,000.

Yorkshire slumped to 40-7 before lunch, only for 19-year-old wicketkeeper Harry Duke to add respectability with a composed 52 off 120 balls in his second first-class appearance.

But opener Davies hit eight fours in 57 balls as Lancashire ended day one in total control at 95 for one from 31 overs, with this a fixture between Group Three’s top two sides.

Role reversal: Captain and bowler Steve Patterson hit 27 with the bat as Yorkshire toiled at Old Trafford. Picture: John Heald

Lancashire started with a three-point advantage after six games and are chasing a first Championship Roses win here since 2000.

Despite winning the toss for the sixth game in seven, Yorkshire were hurt by the late omission of linchpin batsman Gary Ballance due to a calf injury.

They were already without Joe Root and had to draft in inexperienced Will Fraine and George Hill.

Fraine was caught behind for a duck by a Saqib Mahmood beauty, but other pre-lunch dismissals were avoidable.

Adam Lyth was caught in the gully driving at Bailey, Harry Brook was run out from cover having been called through for a quick single by Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Dom Bess was caught in the gully cutting at Luke Wood.

Bailey also had Hill caught at second slip and, just before tea, Duke caught behind down leg pulling.

Lancashire, for whom Luke Wood and Danny Lamb also struck twice, actually let Yorkshire off the hook.

They dropped a handful of catches, including Duke at leg slip as he turned Matthew Parkinson around the corner to secure his 50th run. He shared 77 for the ninth wicket with Steve Patterson, who made 27, before last pair Ben Coad and Duanne Olivier added 38 from 121-9. Coad finished unbeaten on 32.

But home openers Davies and Keaton Jennings put Yorkshire’s batting performance into context in good batting conditions – pace in the pitch and true bounce – with a stand of 71 inside 19 overs.

Afterwards Wakefield-born Duke reflected on his innings which helped Yorkshire to reach three figures at least.

He said: “It was an incredible feeling walking off with 50 to my name in a Roses match. I would have probably wanted a few more for the side, but I’ll take it for my first knock against Lancashire.

“The lads aren’t happy with what’s happened. But we spoke about it being a good effort to get up to 159. “Ben Coad played brilliantly and so did Steve Patterson. And then we said, ‘Just forget the scoreboard and bowl how we know we can’.”

Lancashire seamer Bailey said was disappointed they had let the White Rose tail wag, but said: “At 40-7, I think we’d have liked to have bowled them out for a bit less.

“But it’s a good wicket and we’d have taken 159 all out at the start of the day.

“We knew there’d be a bit of moisture in the pitch early on. But I don’t think any team expects to be seven down at lunch.

“It was nice to only go for a few runs today.

“I said to the lads earlier that a few weeks ago I went for 40 off five overs, so today was really good.”

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