Crawley's century frustrates Yorkshire

A fighting century from John Crawley and some adventurous strokeplay from Lancashire's lower order batsmen blocked Yorkshire's victory charge on the third day of the Roses match at Headingley.

Lancashire closed on 280 for eight with a lead of 122, leaving Yorkshire favourites to clinch their sixth victory of the season and strengthen their position at the top of Division One of the CricInfo Championship table.

Resuming their first innings in the morning on 376 for five, Yorkshire added a further 155 before their last wicket fell at 531.

Darren Lehmann, whose overnight 222 was already the highest by a Yorkshire batsman at Headingley since Maurice Leyland's 211, raced on to a record score in a Roses match, 252, before his epic display finally came to an end as he swung at Glen Chapple and was bowled.

The Australian had given a flawless exhibition of batting in which he received 288 balls and struck 35 fours and a six.

Yorkshire's innings was far from over when Lehmann departed, however, because Darren Gough continued to blaze a trail, putting on 83 in 24 overs with last man Steven Kirby.

Gough was looking set for the second Championship century of his career until he edged Peter Martin to Warren Hegg and was out for 96 from 101 balls with 14 fours and a six, Chapple finishing with a creditable five for 83.

Lancashire got off to a shocking start as Michael Atherton edged to slip in Kirby's first over and Mark Chilton then fell lbw to Gough to make it three for two.

Yorkshire's bowlers kept chipping away at Lancashire but they were defied by captain Crawley who batted superbly for the second time in the match. He never gave a chance as he moved on to his century out of 176 for five but when he had made 113 off 141 balls with 14 fours and a six he cut at Craig White and was caught behind.

In the same over, White dismissed Chapple, whose drive was edged to David Byas at first slip, but Chris Schofield laid about him until he was caught at mid-off for 34 and Yorkshire were denied any further successes by Martin and John Wood who slammed the weary bowlers for 47 off the day's last eight overs, Martin ending unbeaten on 32 and Wood 28.