Yorkshire suffer first County Championship defeat against Lancashire at Old Trafford for 21 years

Yorkshire suffered their first County Championship defeat against Lancashire at Old Trafford for 21 years as paceman Saqib Mahmood led the way with five wickets.
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Mahmood claimed two early wickets as Yorkshire slipped to 92 for four, still 258 runs behind, but the visitors resisted until deep into a thrilling evening session.

He returned to strike twice more, however, and leg-spinner Parkinson claimed the winning wicket when Dom Bess was caught at slip with 40 balls remaining.

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Lancashire’s win by an innings and 79 runs keeps them top of Group Three and ensures they have the only unbeaten record in county cricket after four wins in seven games.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 28: General view of play during the LV= Insurance County Championship match between Lancashire and Yorkshire at Emirates Old Trafford on May 28, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images).MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 28: General view of play during the LV= Insurance County Championship match between Lancashire and Yorkshire at Emirates Old Trafford on May 28, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images).
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 28: General view of play during the LV= Insurance County Championship match between Lancashire and Yorkshire at Emirates Old Trafford on May 28, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images).

They are 26 points clear of Northamptonshire in third place, with Yorkshire only two points clear of the Wantage Road side.

Yorkshire coach Andrew Gale said: “We’re absolutely gutted to lose the game. We thought we could come away with a draw.

“What is most gutting, though, is the way we batted on the first day (21-6 and 159 all out).

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“At 20-6, the game’s lost in the first hour. There’s no hiding behind that.

“I’m as disappointed as the lads, and I feel sorry for some of members who travelled over for a Roses game the first time they are allowed back in the ground. It’s also live on Sky, and we can only apologise for the way we went about things on that first day.”

Skilful Mahmood was brilliant at either end of the day on an abrasive pitch.

Harry Brook top-scored with 52 for Yorkshire and Bess 46.

This was Lancashire’s first Roses Championship win at Old Trafford since 2000 and first at any venue since 2011.

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Parkinson’s leg-spin was likely to be the chief threat, but Mahmood finished with five for 47 from 26 overs.

He ousted Will Fraine and nightwatchman Steve Patterson - 92 for four. Fraine’s middle stump was uprooted by an in-swinger before Patterson lost his off stump with one that moved away.

Mahmood bowled an opening seven-over spell of two for two before fifth-wicket pair Brook and George Hill started the fightback by sharing 59 in 27 overs through the majority of the morning.

Tom Bailey bowled Hill for 18 as the score fell to 151 for five in the 81st over, the second of the afternoon and the first with the new ball.

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Brook reached his fifth fifty of the campaign off 104 balls, only to fall lbw as Parkinson struck him on the boot, leaving the score 180 for six after 93 overs - a minimum of 50 remaining.

Bess was handed a life on 17 by Liam Livingstone at slip off Parkinson with 45 overs remaining.

The off-spinner shared 58 in 28 overs with wicketkeeper Harry Duke either side of tea before the latter shouldered arms and was bowled by Luke Wood for 29 - 238 for seven with 22 remaining.

Mahmood returned to get Jordan Thompson and Ben Coad caught behind in successive overs - Yorkshire 271 for nine with 7.3 overs remaining - before Parkinson had Bess caught at slip by Livingstone to spark jubilant scenes.

Yorkshire’s first defeat came as the last three wickets fell for no runs.

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