Chanderpaul’s role in Yorkshire’s downfall? (From The Northern Echo)

Chanderpaul’s role in Yorkshire’s downfall?

8:00am Friday 2nd September 2011 in Yorkshire CCC Match Reports

IF YORKSHIRE are relegated from Division One of the LV=County Championship this season then Shivnarine Chanderpaul will have a lot to do with it.

A masterful 193 last week helped Warwickshire beat the Tykes inside three days to push them closer to the relegation trap door.

An effortless 110 yesterday could well have kicked the county through it and into the second division.

This is after the West Indies star led his side to 281 for six by the close on day two at Edgbaston, in reply to Yorkshire's first-innings total of 281 all-out.

It means Warwickshire are in command of the match at the half-way stage as they attempt to win the title, whilst the Tykes frustrating day was completed by happenings elsewhere.

In fact, they now know only a victory at Edgbaston will realistically keep their hopes of survival alive, after rivals Worcestershire beat Lancashire inside two days at New Road.

The win puts the Pears 18 points clear of the Tykes in the table.

"That result has changed the challenge for us," admitted stand in captain Joe Sayers.

"It was disappointing from our point of view to find out they had won. I think looking at the table now it is pretty clear that we need to win this game now."

"The message from the club is that we need to show character and fight in this game and if we do that over the next two days then we still have a chance."

There was certainly plenty of that in the early stages of the second day's play.

Although Yorkshire narrowly missed out on a third batting bonus point, after being dismissed for 281 after resuming on 254 for eight, they made an excellent start with the ball at a sunny Edgbaston.

Both Ryan Sidebottom and Ajmal Shahzad got early wickets to leave Warwickshire on 27 for two, with Varun Chopra (7) and Will Porterfield (0) the men out, before Chanderpaul came to the crease to take the game away from the Tykes.

He was initially helped by Ian Westwood, who made a fluent 55 before being ousted by Sidebottom, before Tim Ambrose was his able deputy following the departure of Jim Troughton for just 18.

By this stage the Bears had reached 137 for four, but with the game now hanging in the balance, the duo then put on 135 for the fifth wicket to see their side into a strong position by the close.

Chanderpaul was eventually dismissed by Sidebottom, who also got rid of night-watchman Chris Metters with the last ball of the day for four, but with Ambrose unbeaten on 68 there is still plenty of work for Yorkshire to do.

To add to their problems, the Tykes will also have to rectify a poor over rate before the end of the match.

It currently stands at minus two, meaning the county could be in line for a point's deduction if they do not make up the lost time.

SCORECARD

Warwickshire v Yorkshire
At Edgbaston.
Overnight: Yorkshire 254-8 (J J Sayers 84,
A Lyth 74).

Yorkshire
R J Sidebottom c Ambrose b Clarke 19
S A Patterson not out 15
Ashraf c Ambrose b Clarke 0
Extras (b5 lb13 nb10 pens 0) 28
Total (106.5 overs) 281
Fall: 1-48 2-182 3-197 4-208 5-209 6-
228 7-230 8-252 9-281
Bonus Pts: Warwickshire 3 Yorkshire 2
Bowling: Barker 21-6-50-1. Woakes 21-8-42-1.
Wright 27-7-69-1. Clarke 19.5-4-55-4. Metters
18-2-47-3.

Warwickshire Close
V Chopra c Bairstow b Shahzad 7
I J Westwood c Lyth b Sidebottom 55
W T Porterfield c McGrath b Sidebottom 0
S Chanderpaul c Bairstow b Sidebottom 110
J O Troughton c Bairstow b Ashraf 18
T R Ambrose not out 68
C L Metters lbw b Sidebottom 4
Extras (b3 lb13 w3 pens 0) 19
Total 6 wkts (84.1 overs) 281
Fall: 1-26 2-27 3-94 4-137 5-272 6-281
To Bat: R Clarke, C R Woakes, K H D Barker,
C J C Wright.
Bonus Pts: Warwickshire 3 Yorkshire 2
Bowling: Sidebottom 15.1-3-34-4. Shahzad 19-2-76-
1. Ashraf 16-4-46-1. Patterson 14-1-47-0.
A U Rashid 18-2-51-0. Root 2-0-11-0.