Tykes left to bemoan their luck as rain intervenes again

After a full morning’s play despite heavy overnight rain only two overs were possible in the afternoon session. The first over after the break from Mitchell Starc was dismissed for 18 runs by Stewart Walters who remains unbeaten on 37.

The hosts had won the toss and predictably opted to bat first on a pitch that looked short of pace, bounce and movement despite the damp conditions.

Gareth Rees (35) and William Bragg (20) added 55 for the first wicket before Starc struck twice in nine balls to remove both openers.

Bragg edged a lifter behind and Rees was lbw when attempting to turn to leg.

Azeem Rafiq, introduced as early as the 10th over, dived to hold a stunning return catch to account for Australian Marcus North to claim the Tykes third wicket.

Ryan Sidebottom has signed a one-year extension to his Yorkshire contract that will see him remain a Yorkshire player until the end of the 2014 season.

But with rain setting in on the Welsh coast and the forecast gloomy for the next couple of days there is little else for the large contingent of travelling Tykes to smile about beneath their umbrellas.

One man with a big smile was Sidebottom: “It’s great news to sign a new contract and I’m absolutely delighted.

I still totally love the game, the banter in the dressing room and the young lads here, but first and foremost I still feel fit and the ball is coming out well. “ “The young guys are pushing me. I want to be as good as them and keep up with them. I’ve always wanted to play as long as possible and you’re a long time retired so as long as I’m feeling fit I’ll hold my hand up and bowl my overs.”

Sidebottom returned to Yorkshire last summer after seven seasons at Nottinghamshire and took 62 firstclass wickets. He has added 16 victims at 34.06 this term.

Sidebottom’s England career ended in 2010 after 22 Tests in which he claimed 79 wickets at an average of 28.24.

But he bemoaned the poor weather: “We’ve not really got going and I’ve only bowled in two innings once this summer I think. To get in a bit of rhythm you need to keep bowling but it’s been so stop-start. You can’t do anything about it, but it is really frustrating.”

“We’ve had teams on the rack but not hammered them home because of the rain.”

Yorkshire’s third visit to the North Wales ground, after recording draws in 2003 and 2004, marks the halfway point in a Championship summer where rain has blighted all eight matches the Tykes have played.

Yorkshire made two changes from last week’s Northamptonshire draw at Headingley.

Jonny Bairstow, on England duty ahead of the third Test, is replaced by Gerard Brophy behind the stumps and Adil Rashid joined Rafiq in a two-pronged spin attack.