Yorkshire 307 & 2-1 Surrey 229: Gough shows old thunder to keep Yorkshire rumbling on

If Yorkshire fail to secure their second County Championship in seven seasons it will not be for want of effort, particularly on the part of their captain, the redoubtable Darren Gough. Back in April, when he launched himself, against the march of time as much as anything, into his first overs of the season, there were good odds to be had against him even lasting until July. Having seemingly taken a firm step in the direction of another career, it was widely suspected that the day-to-day rigours of cricket would be too much for his body to bear.

And yet, eight weeks away from his 37th birthday, playing his 25th competitive match of the season, he was charging in yesterday with thunderous determination, working up a good pace and spearheading Yorkshire's quest for full bonus points with such a freshness of spirit and limb that it could have been the opening day.

He was rewarded with figures of 6 for 50 from 21 overs, his second best return of the season, supplementing the three wickets he gained from an excellent opening spell on Sunday evening with three more after lunch yesterday, clinching three bowling points for the Championship leaders that may yet prove to be vital.

With Sussex, whose title defence is beginning to gain momentum, sitting out the latest round of matches, it was imperative for Yorkshire to claim every available point and while the weather again left no chance of a result - the match was abandoned in heavy rain soon after 3.30pm - Gough and his charges can at least be satisfied with the maximum return from a draw.

Despite suffering the frustration of four consecutive rain-wrecked matches, in which effectively six full days have been lost, Yorkshire have an 11-point lead over Sussex. The latter's match in hand probably makes them favourites, although Yorkshire go to Hove in September.

Yesterday, resuming on 87 for 3, Surrey added 20 before Stewart Walters, hooking Jason Gillespie, was superbly caught by Tim Bresnan. Mark Ramprakash and Rikki Clarke then held up Yorkshire's progress, the former passing 1,000 first-class runs for the season, the first in the First Division to do so, but after Anthony McGrath's medium-pace seamers accounted for Ramprakash and Richard Clinton in consecutive balls only Clarke, with an eccentric 65, offered any sustained resistance.

Yorkshire lost Craig White to the second ball of their second innings but within another six deliveries they were back in the dressing rooms for good.