Ballance and Brooks swing game Tykes' way

Gary Ballance's superb century got Yorkshire out of trouble and turned the game in their favour against Worcestershire.
Yorkshire's Ben Coad traps Worcestershire's Ben Twohig lbwYorkshire's Ben Coad traps Worcestershire's Ben Twohig lbw
Yorkshire's Ben Coad traps Worcestershire's Ben Twohig lbw

Ballance has played a significant role in ensuring Yorkshire’s Division One survival in the Specsavers County Championship and the one-time England batsman followed up his hundred in the draw against Nottinghamshire and 85 in the victory over Lancashire by holding together the Tykes’ innings after Worcestershire had been bowled out for 340.

He fought a virtual lone hand while completing his third ton of the campaign – and steering Yorkshire past the threat of being asked to follow on – until he was joined by Jack Brooks in a run-laden final session.

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The pair added a record-breaking 171 in 27 overs for the ninth wicket and shepherded the visitors into a lead that had seemed unlikely when they joined forces at 232-8.

Jack BrooksJack Brooks
Jack Brooks

It surpassed Yorkshire’s previous ninth-wicket best against Worcestershire of 150 by Azeem Rafiq and Matthew Hoggard in 2009.

Brooks is certainly signing off in style before joining Somerset on a three-year contract as he followed up his six-wicket haul in Worcestershire’s first innings with 82 before he was dismissed in the penultimate over.

It left Balance unbeaten on a chanceless 189 from 213 deliveries, with two sixes and 29 fours, as Yorkshire closed on 417-9 – a lead of 77.

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But, as well as Ballance and Brooks played, Worcestershire were left to reflect on another situation of promise that slipped from their grasp when well placed – a major factor in their relegation to Division Two.

They seemed powerless to stop the onslaught and were also handicapped by the absence after tea of paceman Josh Tongue with a foot injury as Balance and Brooks cut loose almost at will.

Worcestershire resumed on 319-8 and Ben Coad struck with the fourth delivery of the day without addition to the score as he trapped Ben Twohig (30) leg before.

Brooks then finished with 6-94 by wrapping up the innings when Dillon Pennington was caught behind for seven, leaving Tongue unbeaten on 30.

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When Yorkshire began their reply, Adam Lyth made a quickfire 27 before he fell lbw to Wayne Parnell and Jack Leaning (13) was comprehensively bowled by a fine delivery from Tongue.

Spinner Twohig struck with the final delivery before before lunch as Jeet Raval (21) went to cut and dragged the ball onto his stumps.

Former Worcestershire batsman Tom Kohler-Cadmore (eight) went leg before to Twohig and Jonny Tattersall (19) had his off stump knocked out by a Tongue delivery which kept low.

Pennington, who had impressed in Worcestershire’s win at Scarborough, had Tim Bresnan pouched at second slip for seven and Tongue bowled Tykes skipper Steven Patterson for six.

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Shortly after tea, debutant James Logan was lbw to Moeen Ali for six but then the balance of power shifted dramatically as Ballance and Brooks raced along at more than six an over.

A total of 203 runs came from 32 overs in the evening and the carnage only ended when Brooks, having struck 15 fours in his 99-ball knock, edged Moeen through to keeper Ben Cox.