Onions routs Yorkshire in stunning comeback

Round-Up

Jon Culley
Saturday 16 April 2011 00:00 BST
Comments
(Getty Images)

England pace bowler Graham Onions may have been out of action for 15 months but it did not take him long to become reacquainted with the joy of taking wickets as Durham put Yorkshire to the sword at Headingley.

On a spectacular comeback following major back surgery, the 28-year-old struck with only his second ball and went on to finish with 5 for 51 as Yorkshire were dismissed for 149 in reply to Durham's 327.

Hungry to make a rapid impact, Onions's appetite was sharpened when Adam Lyth pulled his second delivery straight to square leg. On his first appearance since the third Test against South Africa at Newlands in January 2010, he was no-balled regularly for overstepping during his first spell.

Nonetheless, it was an encouraging start for the 2009 Ashes winner and he was more impressive still when he returned, taking three wickets in the space of 10 balls as Andrew Gale pulled to mid-on, Jonathan Bairstow fell leg-before and opener Joe Root, who had battled manfully to 45, edged to wicketkeeper Michael Richardson.

With his run-up difficulties ironed out, Onions returned for a third spell to complete five wickets in an innings for the 10th time in his career, removing Steve Patterson.

Yorkshire collapsed from 100 for two to 133 for nine in the space of just 23.3 overs; Durham chose not to enforce the follow-on.

At Taunton, Warwickshire continued to make title favourites Somerset toil, turning 416 for six overnight into 642 all out, their highest total against the West Country side, of which the key features were a maiden double hundred from Varun Chopra and a run-a-ball 129 from prospective England all-rounder Chris Woakes.

Ajantha Mendis, the Sri Lankan wrist spinner, improved on a woefully rusty performance on day one but his final analysis of 4 for 183 was the most expensive of his career for a single innings. Woakes then took 3 for 55 as Somerset slipped to 147-6 in reply.

Paceman Steven Finn, whose part in last winter's Ashes success ended when he was left out after three Tests, did his chances of regaining his place no harm by dismissing fellow England players Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara (twice) at Lord's as Middlesex closed in on victory over Essex, who were just 53 ahead at the close having been bowled out twice.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in