Joe Root century checks Lancashire’s victory bid in Roses clash

Former England Test captain Joe Root thwarted a Lancashire attack containing James Anderson to register his first Roses century and give Yorkshire hope of avoiding defeat at Headingley.

In response to Lancashire’s 566 for nine declared, Yorkshire slipped to 68 for four early on the third day of this LV= Insurance County Championship match but Lancashire’s progress was checked by Root.

His innings of 147 included several crisp drives and formed the backbone of Yorkshire’s stumps total of 356 for eight and while they are 61 short of the follow-on target, a draw looks likelier now.

Root, who shared a 154-run stand alongside Harry Duke (40), was eventually prised from the crease shortly before the close when he miscued an attempted work to the leg side off Matt Parkinson to slip.

Parkinson bolstered his hopes of an England call-up as the leg-spinner took three for 79 from 34 overs while Tom Bailey also collected three wickets, with Anderson finishing his day with one for 83.

Elsewhere in Division One, Jack Leach took an eight-wicket match haul as Somerset claimed victory over neighbours Gloucestershire by a record margin of an innings and 246 runs at Bristol.

Leach’s five for for 49 in Gloucestershire’s first innings saw the hosts rolled for 186 in response to their opponents’ 591 for seven declared. Gloucestershire were unable to improve in their follow-on.

Leach was again the pick of the Somerset bowlers with three for 41 as a patched-up Gloucestershire side featuring three new loan signings in their ranks succumbed to 159 second time around.

Kent reached 82 for one in their follow-on after being bowled out for 230 in their first innings in response to Surrey’s 671 for nine declared at Beckenham.

Sam Hain batted through