LONDON, CMC – West Indies stroke maker Shai Hope turned the page on a first-innings failure to carve out a stylish unbeaten half-century as Yorkshire piled pressure on Leicestershire on the penultimate day of their County Championship match here Saturday.
The right-hander finished on 83 not out, an inning that helped propel the hosts to 220 for four in their second innings at Headingley – a lead of 322 runs heading into Sunday’s final day.
Hope has faced 105 deliveries in just over 2-¼ hours and notched 11 fours.
He managed only 13 on Friday in Yorkshire’s first innings of 517, which handed them a lead of 102 after the visitors built on their overnight 201 for five.
Australian Peter Handscomb, unbeaten on 62 at the start on Saturday, struck 112 while Rehan Ahmed (85) and Chris Wright (66 not out) chimed in with half-centuries to ensure the lower order frustrated Yorkshire.
The 31-year-old Handscomb faced 201 balls in the shade over five hours and counted 18 fours, putting on 141 for the sixth wicket with Rehan, who punched 14 fours in a breezy 121-ball knock.
When both fell with four runs added in the space of 24 balls, Wright entertained with seven fours and three sixes in an 81-ball cameo, dominating a ninth-wicket stand of 65 with Josh Hull (15).
Yorkshire then found themselves in early trouble in their second turn at the crease, the innings slumping to 29 for three before Hope arrived to anchor successive half-century stands and revive the innings.
First, he added 96 for the fourth wicket with James Wharton, who struck 52 from 91 balls with seven fours and a six, before adding a further 95 in an unbroken fifth wicket stand with George Hill, who has thumped 57 not out off just 66 balls with seven fours and two sixes.
At Old Trafford, Kemar Roach’s Surrey set Lancashire a victory target of 444 runs, the hosts ending the penultimate day on 37 without loss.
The West Indies seamer sent down four overs which cost 13 runs but could not get the breakthrough.
and then 