Durham v Yorkshire: Day three close
THREE wickets for Mitchell Claydon gave Durham an outside chance of victory as their County Championship game with Yorkshire surprisingly went into a final day.
After 17 wickets on day one, it is amazing this game is going the distance and after three days of real entertainment, it is a pleasant surprise.
But it will take some fireworks for Durham to win it, with the Tykes needing just 54 more to effectively end their hosts' hopes of a third consecutive title success - a feat they were the last county to achieve, between 1966 and 1968.
Jacques Rudolph scored his fourth four-day century of the season when he tucked the ball into the legside from the 137th ball he had faced. He hit 15 fours in reaching the landmark, only to play on to Claydon without adding to it.
Fired up against his former county, Claydon beat the in-form South African for pace, and Rudolph played on.
Just five balls earlier Durham had put down a catch, although it was an extremely difficult one. Liam Plunkett dived at full stretch to his right at midwicket and got a hand to it but could not hold on. Anthony McGrath had 16 when he drove at Stephen Harmison.
The first-innings centurion had 29 when Ben Stokes took an excellent catch to dismiss the right-hander, diving forward at point to reduce Yorkshire to 204-3.
They were still 71 adrift when Claydon enticed Jonathan Bairstow to nibble at one. The wicketkeeper was caught behind by opposite number Phil Mustard, bringing nightwatchman Steve Patterson to the crease.
Claydon seemed convinced he had Patterson lbw from the following ball, just as he did in his next over, when Andrew Gale was 28 not out. On both occasions umpire Barry Duddleston thought otherwise.
At the close of play Yorkshire were 245-4. Captain Gale will resume on 38 not out tomorrow morning, while Patterson has one.
Thursday's Journal will have a full report of the third day's play.
