Cricket / County Championship: Yorkshire frustrated by Holloway

Warwickshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .346 and 115-4

Yorkshire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178 and 282

Warwickshire win by 6 wickets

PIRAN HOLLOWAY, the 22-year- old Cornishman who keeps Warwickshire's wicket, was hit stinging blows on the elbow and in the groin yet continued his night-watchman role so successfully the Bears were able to survive an early ambush and win comfortably shortly after lunch.

They had started needing a further 104 with nine wickets standing on a pitch offering the bowlers little more than a slow turn, but if the odds were all in Warwickshire's favour they had to contend with a Yorkshire team very much under the lash.

After a Sunday defeat, the Yorkshire captain Martyn Moxon announced a shake-up of the team for tomorrow's NatWest Trophy tie at Bristol, adding: 'This is a serious situation and form has to improve.'

For an hour, it did. Andy Moles, upon whom Warwickshire rely so much, drove Peter Hartley for a straight four and then nicked high to second slip. Dominic Ostler, driving Darren Gough for two boundaries, was then leg before to Hartley who, in his best spell of the season, also left Holloway badly bruised.

At 37 for 3 Yorkshire glimpsed victory for the first time but once Hartley was rested, Holloway and Trevor Penney were able to pick off the runs in their own good time as all the other bowlers offered one ripe plum an over.

Holloway, carving at Jeremy Batty, did offer one high catch, in a gusty breeze to cover, running back, but only three were needed when a stand of 75 was broken, just after lunch, Holloway departing for a brave 44.

Yorkshire have dropped Ashley Metcalfe, David Byas and Jeremy Batty for the tie against Gloucestershire, bringing in Simon Kellett, free of a finger injury, Paul Grayson and Michael Vaughan. Vaughan, born in Eccles, Manchester, but schooled in Sheffield, is a right-handed opening batsman who is included in the senior party for the first time.

If Yorkshire lose tomorrow another season will be over before mid-point and jobs will be on the line. The committee can no longer blame Geoffrey Boycott, or the lack of both an overseas professional and outside recruitment. They can blame only the present staff.