County Championship 2022 Division I | George Hill’s unbeaten 151 takes Yorkshire to a dominating position

On Day 3, Yorkshire set an improbable target of 499 runs for Northamptonshire to chase in the 4th innings. An enthralling final day is on the cards as Yorkshire would like to gain a vital victory in the context of the championship.

The pitch at County Ground in Northampton seems to have lost all its spice as the home side had a rough day on the field. Nevertheless, Northamptonshire survived 24 overs in the tricky final session to remain unscathed at 56-0. Will Young and Ricardo Vasconcelos holding ground would have played a significant morale booster for the team.

Earlier in the day, Yorkshire resumed on 85/1 and indulged in a run-fest to take the match out of the opposition’s grasp. Though Adam Lyth fell soon after reaching his half-century, George Hill continued to hold one end.

Hill was involved in two critical partnerships for the third and fourth wickets. First, he stitched a 157-run stand with Dawid Malan. Malan failed to convert yet another fifty into a three-figure mark as he fell on 75.

Malan’s dismissal brought Harry Brook to join Hill in the middle. With the declaration in mind, the pair shifted gears and took the attack to the opposition. Yorkshire declared soon after tea when Hill crossed the 150-run mark. 

Hill’s stunning knock of 151* included eleven fours and three sixes. Brook remained not out on 77 after playing with a T20-like strike rate of 122.22. His quickfire innings consisted of seven fours and three sixes. The duo put Yorkshire in a commanding position and gave Northamptonshire’s bowlers a proper pasting.

Brief scores

Yorkshire 296/10 (1st innings) 

Harry Brook 84, Dawid Malan 64; 

Gareth Berg 58/5

Northamptonshire 204/10 (1st innings)

Emilio Gay 65; 

Jordan Thompson 54/4, Matthew Revis 43/3

Yorkshire 406/3 (2nd innings)

George Hill 151*, Harry Brook 77*;

Rob Keogh 52/1

Northamptonshire 56/0 (2nd innings) need 443 runs to win

Will Young 25*, Ricardo Vasconcelos 24*