YORKSHIRE failed to avoid the follow-on but still managed to salvage a draw in their County Championship match against Somerset at Scarborough which will go down as one of the dullest games in which they have ever been involved, writes David Warner.

Coach Wayne Clark expressed himself satisfied with the result but it was little more than cold comfort for Yorkshire because it left them embedded at the foot of the First Division table with relegation a bigger threat than ever.

Warwickshire's shock win over leaders Surrey has put even greater pressure on the basement clubs and makes it absolutely essential that Yorkshire beat Lancashire in the bottom-of-the-table Roses clash which begins at Headingley on Friday.

Before then, however, Yorkshire have to concentrate hard on winning tomorrow's Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy quarter-final tie with Essex at Chelmsford. A defeat in this game would leave their season in tatters.

It is a sign of the times for the struggling County Champions that their sole ambition over four days against Somerset was to emerge with a draw rather than a defeat but nothing short of outright victory was what was really required.

Starting the final day on 258-6, Yorkshire needed a further 91 to avoid the follow-on but they fell short, their final score of 323 causing them to miss out on two batting bonus points.

The man to do most of the damage was left-arm spinner Ian Blackwell, who recorded his season's best figures of 4-49.

When Yorkshire went in again shortly before lunch, their first target was to make the 175 needed to deny Somerset an innings victory. They managed that with one or two alarms on the way and when they had reached 213-5 the extra half hour was not claimed.

Somerset possibly paid a heavy price for dropping openers Craig White and Matthew Wood early on. The first-wicket pair put on 77 before both fell in quick succession to Dutch and when Anthony McGrath was lbw to Blackwell it left Darren Lehmann to make sure there was no late collapse.

Lehmann stroked 14 fours in his 75 off 95 balls before being deceived by Blackwell into giving a catch off bat and pad to short leg.

With Michael Lumb already having fallen lbw to Peter Bowler, Yorkshire were 184-5 but Vic Craven and Richard Blakey stayed calm until the end.

Updated: 11:54 Monday, July 15, 2002