Rashid brings bit of cheer on vexing day for Yorkshire (From York Press)

Rashid brings bit of cheer on vexing day for Yorkshire

11:21am Friday 3rd August 2012 in Sport By Graham Hardcastle

Adil Rashid’s performance was one of few positives during another frustrating day for Yorkshire in their ongoing LV= County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

The 24-year-old, who returned figures of 1-25 from nine overs of leg-spin, was his side’s most potent weapon on day two as the hosts replied to 249 with 175-3 from 57.4 overs as, not surprisingly, rain intervened yet again to account for the loss of 38.2 overs.

Haphazard with the bat on Wednesday, Rashid apart, Yorkshire did not look at their most threatening with the ball yesterday.

Even though the likes of Steve Patterson (0-30 from 15) and Rich Pyrah (1-30 from ten) gained some control, home opener Stephen Peters rarely looked troubled on the way to a 158-ball 74 not out.

He shared 66 for the first wicket with Kyle Coetzer and an unbroken 69 for the fourth with Rob Newton (40 not out).

Yorkshire’s ground fielding was not at its best, especially in the closing stages of the afternoon, which proved to be the final session of the day.

For Rashid this day was a triumph having lost his regular starting berth to Azeem Rafiq.

Having bowled only one over in the Championship since May 19 before this match, he threatened regularly and had Alex Wakely caught at second slip.

With Rafiq and Pyrah having already struck, Rashid’s scalp left the score at 106-3 in the 40th over.

“Personally, I feel I bowled pretty well,” reflected the player who has now taken ten four-day wickets this season.

“I felt threatening. I didn’t bowl many bad balls. Every ball looked like something might happen, but I realise I still have a long way to go. Once I get a couple of wickets, I can really get into my stride.

“Finding my form has been difficult. I haven’t bowled a lot. Coming back into the side, I have wanted to do really well, and that has maybe put pressure on me.

“I’m in the side as a wicket taker. If you get hit, you get hit. You have to have that mindset as a strike bowler. If you go round the park, then so be it. That puts less pressure on me.

“Even the best players in the world can go through bad patches. Form is temporary, class is permanent. I have been up and down, but I want to come back on a high now.”

Yorkshire must come back this morning firing on all cylinders if they are to force their way back into the game on a slow pitch. Another hour of the fourth-wicket alliance between Peters and Newton will put the visitors right on the back foot.