Lyth century underpins dominant display by Yorkshire batters

Yorkshire 286 for 4 (Lyth 115, Malan 51) lead Sussex 216 (Hudston-Prentice 73, Fisher 4-69) by 70 runs

Lyth led the county’s 286 for 4 in response to Sussex’s insufficient first-innings 216 after the guests elected to bat on a pitch they believed would worsen however has received significantly better.

Play began with Sussex advancing their first innings from 120 for six in a single day after they struggled in bowler-friendly situations throughout a shortened first day.

All-rounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Australian abroad seamer Nathan McAndrew gave their whole respectability by finishing a 94-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Spectacular Hudson-Prentice top-scored with 73 and McAndrew added 47.

It was an indication of issues to come back that they batted comfortably late on day one and early on day two in advancing from 76 for six.

Matthew Fisher completed with 4 for 69 for Yorkshire, all 4 of his wickets approaching the opening day.

Left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty claimed two of the 4 morning wickets together with Hudson-Prentice brilliantly caught by substitute fielder Matthew Revis operating again in direction of the long-on fence. He was on for Lyth on the time.

Yorkshire clearly have not had issues simple in Championship cricket for the final season-and-a-half.

And whereas Lyth, dropped on 38 at second slip by James Coles, performed the lead position, it’s his 21-year-old opening companion Bean’s type this season which is much more pleasing as they construct for the longer term.

Despite the fact that he missed out on the large eye-catching rating on this innings, Bean nonetheless went past 600 Championship runs for the season – a milestone Lyth later reached as nicely.

Bean put his title in lights final summer season with a exceptional 441 in a second-team Championship match at Nottinghamshire when not on contract at Headingley.

It earned him an nearly rapid rookie take care of the county, and solely final week that was became a maiden two-year full skilled deal following three Championship centuries in 2023.

Stalwart Lyth has not had a stable opening partnership since fellow Championship-winner Alex Lees left for Durham in late 2018. Now, this Lyth and Bean alliance appears to be set in stone for a great whereas to come back.

Lyth, as ever, drove handsomely as Yorkshire confidently made inroads into Sussex’s whole.

At one stage, he and Bean hit 5 fours in seven balls off the seam of Hudson-Prentice and Henry Crocombe within the fifteenth and sixteenth overs, transferring the rating to 75 with out loss. Actually, 76 out of Yorkshire’s first 89 runs got here in boundaries.

Lyth drove with extra of a flourish and Bean was extra compact and mechanical. The latter will not be too dissimilar to the way in which Sir Alastair Cook dinner bats.

Lyth reached his fifty off 77 balls shortly after Bean had departed, caught at slip attempting to play forcefully off the again foot towards McAndrew – 94 for one within the twenty second over.

However Lyth discovered one other companion in Rickelton, who’s taking part in his second of 4 Championship matches as a short-term substitute for captain Shan Masood, away on Check responsibility with Pakistan.

Rickelton was fast on his toes in lofting Coles’ left-arm spin for six over long-off earlier than he edged the seam of Ari Karvelas to second slip as he jammed down on a full ball.

Lyth later reached his century off 157 balls however was the primary of two wickets in as many overs from off-spinner Jack Carson, who helped Sussex finish the day nicely. Lyth chipped to midwicket and George Hill edged to slide with out scoring, leaving Yorkshire at 258 for 4 within the 63rd over.

Whereas Sussex restricted the injury late on, Malan reached his fifty off 82 balls.