Taylor withstands Bond's barrage

Warwickshire 233 Yorkshire 304-9

Matthew Elliott, it transpires, is not arriving on Sunday just to deputise for Darren Lehmann for the rest of this season. The former Australian opener will be Yorkshire's second overseas professional in 2003 as well. On occasions next term Yorkshire will have two Australians in their first four and Elliott, Victoria's captain, is likely to be county vice-captain.

It was ironic, therefore, that Elliott's news should coincide with another promising innings from Chris Taylor, the tall, 20-year-old right-handed opening batsman. He had been impressive in his only other Championship match this season, a resolute fifty against Surrey. This time he had to face a fast and painful barrage from Shaun Pollock's deputy, the New Zealand fast bowler, Shane Bond, taking a nasty crack in the ribs for his pains.

Bond's fire, Alan Richardson's incisions and hard work from the other seamers, plus two brilliant low slip catches by Nick Knight, one with either hand, dented Yorkshire's hopes of a quick lead. Batsmen found the bounce variable while there is also turn, which helped the off-spinner Mark Wagh record creditable figures of 12-4-26-0.

As usual, Yorkshire's hopes of a big lead revolved around Lehmann. His timing improved as he lost partners (a whiff of crisis is an adrenalin surge) so when he was missed by Knight, of all people, off Richardson, when on 72, the Bears must have feared the worst.

Three runs later he drove loosely, Keith Piper took the catch behind the stumps and Warwickshire were back in the hunt. With Yorkshire 231 for 7, Warwickshire must have hoped for a quick wrap-up. However, Richard Blakey, doggedly, and Chris Silverwood, belligerently, put Yorkshire in profit.