Mike Shines As Rain Forces Opening Round Draw

By Graham Hardcastle | ECB Reporters Network

Result | Match Drawn

Points | Leicestershire - 13, Yorkshire, 12

Ben Mike completed a superb return to Headingley by claiming figures of 4/44 - pairing with his score of 90 with the bat - as Leicestershire took 13 points from their Vitality County Championship opener.

England star Harry Brook hit a stunning final day 100 not out in his first competitive innings since December as Yorkshire and Leicestershire had to settle for an opening round Vitality County Championship draw at Headingley.

Brook arrived at the crease four balls into day four of this weather-ravaged Division Two fixture, overnight rain and a wet outfield once again delaying the start of play.

Yorkshire started, at 1.35pm, on 72 for two in their first-innings reply to Leicestershire’s 354. George Hill fell caught off a miscue in the day’s opening over, paving the way for Brook to come in and royally entertain the hardy 178 spectators who had waited patiently for play.

He smashed 14 fours and two sixes in 69 balls, Yorkshire declaring immediately on 264 for six just before tea in order to improve a slow over-rate from the first innings.

They did this successfully as spinners Dan Moriarty and Lyth raced through 7.2 overs before the rain arrived at 4pm with Leicestershire on 26 without loss in their second innings. No more play was possible.

Brook shared 128 inside 16 overs for the fourth wicket with fellow centurion Adam Lyth, who played second fiddle despite posting his 101 off 100 balls. Yorkshire’s opener started started the day on 43. 

Lyth - 43 overnight - reached his own half-century, off 59 balls, and he was first to a century off 98 balls. The 36-year-old left-hander was particularly strong on the drive, and he also pulled Rehan Ahmed’s leg-spin over midwicket for his second six on the way to a 98-ball ton.

Lyth fell caught at deep cover off Tom Scriven’s seam two balls later - 201 for four.

Leicestershire played some excellent cricket during the first couple of days, both with bat and ball. And they started day four well when Matt Salisbury forced Hill into a miscued drive to mid-off four balls into the day (73 for three).

England’s Ahmed was amongst the Foxes bowlers taken to task - nought for 43 from five overs - though they did have success at the other end from Brook through ex-Yorkshire all-rounder Mike.

He had claimed the first two wickets during Saturday’s second day and returned to trap both Jonny Tattersall and Jordan Thompson lbw cheaply as the score became 254 for six late in the afternoon.

Brook’s first appearance of any kind for Yorkshire since July 2022, he reached his 12th first-class century off 69 balls immediately before the declaration. 

Leicestershire’s second innings then started with the rare sight of two spinners running back to their marks in between in each ball.