Ricardo Vasconcelos hit a valiant 129 not out as he attempted to power Northamptonshire to an unlikely victory over Yorkshire in this Vitality County Championship match which ended in high drama on a see-saw final evening at Wantage Road.
Yorkshire had set up a tantalising run chase of challenging 326 to win in a little over two sessions, and when Vasconcelos warmed up for the T20 Blast campaign with 17 boundaries all around the ground, a home win looked a possibility.
But a dramatic clatter of wickets as Yorkshire’s attack staged a late fightback set nerves jangling in the home dressing room, Vasconcelos had to switch gears to ensure his side held out for the draw, eight wickets down for 250, in an innings full of character and maturity.
At 165 for two in the 33rd over with Vasconcelos sharing a quickfire stand of 63 in 55 balls with Karun Nair (36), Northamptonshire were set for a potentially enthralling white ball style finish. But a persistent Yorkshire bowling attack fought back, taking three wickets for 13, and six for 54 in all, as first innings centurion Adam Lyth concluded a memorable 200th Championship match with career best bowling figures of four for 56. In total Northamptonshire seven wickets fell in the evening session.
Earlier Yorkshire captain Shan Masood (131 not out) declared his side’s innings on 264 for six just before lunch, dangling the carrot of a chase which would have been the tenth highest to beat Yorkshire by any team in its history.
Ultimately though, the loss of 17 overs during two stoppages for rain took too much time out of the game and the captains shook hands shortly after 6.20pm. The draw leaves both sides winless after seven games, Yorkshire taking 14 points and Northamptonshire 13.
Earlier Masood, who resumed on an overnight 82 not out, powered his way to three figures, his unbeaten 131 coming off just 152 deliveries (13 fours, four sixes). He made his intentions clear from the start, driving Justin Broad through the covers and steering him down to third to reach three figures, bringing up the 50 partnership with Will Luxton (27) in the process.
While Luxton fell in the next over, edging Broad low to first slip, Masood found another willing partner in Jonathan Tattersall, combining in a run-a-ball stand of 66.
After a brief rain delay, Yorkshire briefly took the field for four deliveries, adding 11 more runs, Masood swinging Keogh high over deep square leg for six. Satisfied with their lead, Masood declared, Northamptonshire openers Vasconcelos and Emilio Gay safely negotiating four overs before lunch.
Yorkshire though struck immediately after the resumption, when a flat-footed Gay edged Fernando’s first ball to first slip.
Vasconcelos soon found the boundary, cutting Vishwa Fernando in front of point for four before rain forced the players from the field once more, this time for 55 minutes.
Vasconcelos immediately took the positive route when play resumed, running hard, driving Jordan Thompson down the ground, and smashing him through extra cover, while also showing excellent placement and timing, including a delicate late cut down to third.
Northamptonshire went into tea on 94 for one, with Vasconcelos unbeaten on 56, still needing 232 to win in a minimum of 35 overs.
Three overs behind the required over rate, Yorkshire brought on Lyth to speed up proceedings, a move which proved inspired as the part-time spinner struck early in the evening session, snaring Procter (31) who played a loose shot to cover, ending a stand of 89 with Vasconcelos.
Tattersall missed an easy chance to run out Nair on 4 and then a more difficult stumping chance off Lyth when the Indian international was on 16. Nair quickly made Yorkshire pay, picking up one from Matt Revis and dispatching it over deep midwicket for six and cutting him for four to bring up the half-century stand with Vasconcelos off 44 balls. Nair’s downfall finally came when he skied one off Revis, Finlay Bean running round to take the catch at short third.
George Bartlett (6) was next to go when he pulled Revis to short midwicket, closely followed by Rob Keogh (3) who chipped the ball back to Lyth for a simple return catch. Lewis McManus (6) then swept Lyth to backward square to leave Northamptonshire 192 for six with 134 more needed of 107 deliveries.
Vasconcelos, who had kept motoring on, upper cutting Revis over the keeper’s head for four to go to 98 before moving to his century. But he soon lost another partner when Broad (8) left a Lyth delivery and was adjudged lbw.
Northamptonshire duly shut up shop, with Vasconcelos shepherding the tail. There was one final moment of drama when Ben Sanderson was struck on the boot by Jordan Thompson, with Northamptonshire 219 for eight with just six overs left, but Siddharth Kaul kept Vasconcelos company as they closed out the draw.