Yorkshire v Middlesex: Bairstow ton unable to give Yorkshire clear command

Jonny Bairstow’s 13th first-class century helped Yorkshire from an overnight 96-4 to 229 all-out, a first innings lead of 17.

But after the hosts reduced Middlesex to 72-4 in their second innings, Dawid Malan and James Franklin mounted a rearguard that saw the visitors reach 127-4 at stumps, a lead of 110.

Malan finished unbeaten on 33 and captain Franklin on 26 to leave proceedings delicately poised.

Earlier, Bairstow hit 125 not out from 187 balls with 10 fours and four sixes in a wonderful exhibition of controlled hitting.

Bairstow, whose previous Championship innings this season were 102, 59, 50 and 66, helped lift Yorkshire from a precarious 142-8.

After Yorkshire resumed on 165-8 after lunch, they lost their ninth wicket for the addition of only five runs when Steve Patterson was bowled pushing forward at Toby Roland-Jones.

Bairstow added 59 for the last wicket in 13 overs with Jack Brooks, who contributed six to their partnership before he was caught behind off Ollie Rayner.

After Bairstow, the next highest score was 20 by Jack Leaning, who was one of two wickets lost by the hosts inside the first three balls of the day.

Leaning went lbw first ball to Toby Roland-Jones, who then had Glenn Maxwell caught behind for a duck from the third delivery.

Bairstow then added 35 for the seventh-wicket with Will Rhodes, who contributed 11 before edging behind off Tim Murtagh.

Bairstow went to fifty from 89 balls with six fours and then lost Tim Bresnan with the total at 142, the pace bowler well caught at second slip by Ollie Rayner at the second attempt off James Harris.

Roland-Jones ended with Middlesex’s best figures of 4-78, while Murtagh chipped in with 3-62.

Yorkshire: Lyth, Lees, Ballance, Gale (captain), Bairstow, Leaning, Maxwell, Rhodes, Bresnan, Patterson, Brooks.

Middlesex: Robson, Burns, Compton, Malan, Franklin (captain), Dexter, Simpson, Rayner, Harris, Roland-Jones, Murtagh.