Rashid puts Yorkshire in control

Yorkshire 425 Warwickshire 221-7

Adil Rashid has not had a sniff of international cricket since his active participation in England's tour of South Africa ended last November, much to the bafflement of the leg-spinner's admirers, but what some may take as a snub from the selectors might work in the Yorkshire bowler's favour.

His art, after all, is the most difficult to perfect in cricket and a spell without distractions in the county game might actually be just what he requires, especially armed as he is now with some knowledge of the standard he needs to attain to be effective at the highest level.

If it is a deliberate policy on the part of Geoff Miller and company Yorkshire will not complain. Rashid is their leading wicket-taker in first-class and Twenty20 cricket and appears to be regaining confidence with every appearance.

His four wickets yesterday put Yorkshire in a strong position here, with Warwickshire struggling to avoid the follow-on. If Nottinghamshire fail to extricate themselves from a tricky situation against Essex, Yorkshire could take a clear lead in the title race.

In the morning, wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy completed his seventh first-class century – his second for Yorkshire – off 168 balls with 15 fours but while Yorkshire wound up with a daunting total, at least Warwickshire mounted an encouraging fightback for a while.

When Yorkshire lost their last two wickets soon after lunch, Warwickshire could claim to have dominated the day to that point, having taken six wickets for 100, Neil Carter finishing with 4 for 87. Brophy, in the end, rather gave his wicket away, caught at point with a loose cut.

The visitors were still on top at tea, after a fashion, after captain Ian Westwood and co-opener Darren Maddy had compiled the first century opening stand in the Championship for Warwickshire in more than two years. But after both he and Maddy fell leg before in consecutive overs, the innings began to lose its way.

Rashid dismissed Westwood with a ball that shot through low but, making the ball turn and bounce, claimed his second success when Jim Troughton popped the ball obligingly to Adam Lyth at forward short leg. Rashid dismissed Ant Botha in much the same fashion as Warwickshire slipped from 148 for 2 to 153 for 5. He added his fourth wicket when Steffan Piolet was leg before.