Read hits ton as Tykes left to toil in the field

MORNE MORKEL marked his debut by taking his first wicket for Yorkshire but, after a bright start, the home side toiled in the field for little reward on day three.

Nottinghamshire were able to build up a sizeable first innings lead thanks to four fine knocks at Headingley. After Mark Wagh made his half century, Graham Swann followed suit before he was trapped lbw by the medium pace of Anthony McGrath.

England hopeful Chris Read then did the real damage, however, with a tremendous unbeaten century, ably assisted by Stuart Broad who also made 50 before the close.

At the start of play, Matthew Hoggard's wicket with the last ball of the day on Thursday looked all the more important as the track that had promised much to the bowlers since the start of the game hardened into a batsman's paradise at a sundrenched Headingley.

Matthew Wood and Wagh were taking full advantage with a stand of 43 but just as Yorkshire had done in their first innings, Nottinghamshire lost key wickets in quick succession.

Gerard Brophy was twice on hand to complete dismissals by holding on to edges from first Wood and then Aussie Adam Voges, who became Morkel's first victim in county cricket.

"It's nice to get my first wicket, " he said. "I'm pretty happy, it's hard work out there with a slow wicket, I like a pitch with a bit more bounce."

Headingley's collective hearts were in their mouths when the South African later limped off the field but he's confident that the hamstring injury he appeared to suffer won't keep him from playing a full part tomorrow.

"I thought it was cramping at first, it went really tight, " he said. "We're going to have a look at it in the morning but I'll do all I can to play tomorrow, hopefully it'll be ok in the morning, I'm pretty sure I'll be fine."

Hoggard followed up Morkel's success with a wicket of his own by dismissing Samit Patel for just nine with a great ball that ripped back and hit off stump.

Hoggard seems to be making a habit of taking important scalps in the dying embers of sessions and he did so again yesterday to round off an excellent morning.

The home side were in full control at lunch with the visitors reeling on 86 for four but their heroics lower down the order turned the game on its head with both batsmen at the crease capable of causing problems.

At stumps Notts were in a very strong position on 356 for six with a first innings lead of 57 already established and a formidable looking century partnership between Broad and Read.

SCORECARD
Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire
At Headingley Carnegie.
Overnight: Yorkshire 299 (J A Rudolph 104 no,
G L Brophy 63; G P Swann4-25).
Nottinghamshire 0-1.

Nottinghamshire First Innings Close
M J Wood c Brophy b Bresnan 20
M A Wagh c A U Rashid b Gough 56
A C Voges c Brophy b M Morkel 6
S R Patel b Hoggard 10
C M Read not out 115
G P Swann lbw b McGrath 68
S C Broad not out 52
Extras (b6 lb15 nb8 pens 0) 29
Total 6 wkts (101 overs) 356
Fall: 1-0 2-43 3-58 4-86 5-115 6-251
To Bat: M A Ealham, R J Sidebottom, C E
Shreck.
Bonus Pts: Yorkshire 2 Nottinghamshire 3
Bowling: Hoggard 19-5-75-2. M Morkel 15.2-4-
33-1. Gough 14-0-70-1. Bresnan 19.4-3-48-1.
McGrath 17-1-57-1. A U Rashid 16-3-52-0.