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Raphinha's first half goal and a solid defensive display lifted Barcelona to a uncomfortable 1-0 win over Athletic Club to go nine points clear

Athletic Club enjoyed the better of the play in the first half, forcing two strong saves out of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and rattling the bar from a Raul Garcia header. But Barcelona broke the deadlock before half-time, with Raphinha firing into the far corner from the right corner of the box.

The Blaugrana have made a habit of winning by fine margins of late, and the same happened here. They created little in the second half but defended diligently enough to grind out a result. Ter Stegen was crucial in the final minutes, breaking out a flurry of saves as the clock ran down.

Barcelona also benefitted from VAR, which ruled out a potential late equaliser from Inaki Williams after a questionable handball in the build-up.

It was all emblematic of Xavi's new Barcelona. They created less than their opponent but were simply more clinical, and dug in enough in front of their own net to win. These aren't pretty performances, but Barca now have a nine-point La Liga lead over Real Madrid with the Clasico looming next Sunday.

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from San Mames…

GettyGoalkeeper & Defence

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (8/10):

Made some immense saves to help retain his side's lead, including one terrific diving stop in stoppage time. Absolutely massive to this club.

Sergi Roberto (6/10):

Struggled to deal with the pace of Nico Williams in the first half, and did little to support Raphinha.

Jules Kounde (7/10):

Effective at centre-back, exploited at right-back as Athletic Club went more direct. Far better with Ronald Araujo for support. Made a crucial block in stoppage time to help see out the win.

Andreas Christensen (7/10):

Won his headers, passed well, but was given problems by the lively Inaki Williams.

Alejandro Balde (7/10):

Was effective going forward and gave everything defensively. Showed why he's currently preferred to Jordi Alba in the XI.

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Gavi (7/10):

One daring tackle with his head marked a scrappy first half showing. Got on the ball more in the second half, and Barca were far better for it.

Sergio Busquets (6/10):

Assisted Raphinha's opener with an angled pass. Was a bit loose on the ball after the break, which helped Athletic Club build some momentum

Frenkie de Jong (6/10):

An accurate passer and rarely dispossessed, but didn't create much. Is more effective in a midfield four.

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Raphinha (8/10):

Scored the opener on the stroke of half time, drilling a shot into the bottom corner. Was lively down the right and held on to the ball well despite a lack of attacking support.

Robert Lewandowski (6/10):

A heavy touch cost him what should have been a certain goal. Missed a clear header in the second half, and didn't retain the ball as effectively as usual. Will need to find his shooting boots before the Clasico.

Ferran Torres (5/10):

Saw an early shot saved, argued with Lewandowski quite a bit. Didn't exactly inspire confidence.

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Franck Kessie (6/10):

Replaced the toiling Torres for midfield legs, didn't offer the midfield solidity that was required.

Ansu Fati (5/10):

Relieved a leggy Raphinha, failed to impact the game.

Marcos Alonso (5/10):

Watched the ball sail over his head for what should have been an Athletic Club equaliser, but saw the goal ruled out.

Angel Alarcon (N/A):

Didn't have time to make an impact.

Xavi (6/10):

An interesting one. Xavi benched Kessie and went back to a 4-3-3, which didn't quite pay off. Barca lacked creativity but the signature solid defending was on display. His side were very fortunate to see VAR rule out what would have been a late equaliser for the home team. The Blaugrana will need to be much better than this against Madrid. Still, they are nine points clear — which isn't bad at all.

A round-up of all the WICB regional 4 day tournament matches that ended on February 22, 2016

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Feb-2016
ScorecardJon-Russ Jaggesar ended with match figures of 11 for 111•WICB Media/LMA PhotographyOffspinner Jon-Russ Jaggesar’s 8 for 58 and Evin Lewis’ 104 in the second innings, shaped Trindad & Tobago’s eight-wicket win over Jamaica at Sabina Park.Jaggesar’s eight-for helped bowl Jamaica out for 155 in the second innings after his side had conceded a 19-run lead in the first innings. None of the Jamaica batsmen managed a score more than 30, Nikita Miller top scoring with 28.Lewis anchored T&T’s chase of 175 with his maiden first-class century. He shared a 102-run partnership with Kyle Hope before falling with T&T’s score on 168.In the first innings, Jamaica were guided to 225 by Shacaya Thomas’ 64 and Kirk Edwards’ 66. They shared a 100-run stand for the second wicket before Jaggesar and Imran Khan picked up six wickets between them to help ensure that no other batsman crossed the score of 40.In response, Nikita Miller rattled T&T by picking up 7 for 69, to help bowl them out for 206. Lewis’ 87 at the top of the order was the only score of note, with as many as six T&T batsmen falling for single-digit scores.
ScorecardFifties from Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Leon Johnson helped Guyana manage a draw against Barbados despite Roston Chase’s career-best match figures of 10 for 104.Chasing a target of 405, Chanderpaul made a patient 69 after which captain Johnson too resisted with a fifty. Chase kept Barbados’ hopes alive with by picking up wickets in clusters, but couldn’t manage to take his side to victory as Guyana ended at 252 for 7.Barbados were in a strong position after centuries from Shai Hope and Jonathan Carter helped them set Guyana a target of 405 in the final innings. While Hope’s ton was a more patient effort, Carter’s 100 came off 104 balls during which he hit eight fours and three sixes.Chase cut through Guyana in the first innings to help bowl them out for 190, and end with figures for 5 for 27. Barbados too had a top-order collapse in the first innings, as they were reduced to 154 for 6. Kevin Stoute then revived the innings with an unbeaten 56 at No. 8 that took them to 274 before being bowled out.With the draw, Guyana maintained their position at the top of the points table with 107 points, while Barbados follow at second position with 90 points.
ScorecardLeeward Islands’ fixture with Windward Islands winded down to a draw in St Thomas. Choosing to bat, Leewards posted 327 on the back of Rahkeem Cornwall’s 97 and handy forties by Orlando Peters, Nkrumah Bonner and Jahmar Hamilton. Cornwall’s 97 came off just 95 balls, during which he smashed ten fours and six sixes. Kyle Mayers was Windwards’ best bowler, picking up 5 for 83.Windwards responded strongly with Kavem Hodge scoring his maiden first-class century. He was assisted by Devon Smith (89), Sunil Ambris (56) and Kyel Mayers (58), helping Windwards post 389 on the final day.Leewards made 171 for 8 in the second innings, thanks to captain Bonner’s 46 and Hamilton’s 40, before the match ended in an inevitable draw. Liam Sebastien was the pick of Windwards’ bowlers, picking up 4 for 49.

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza has said that the side employed an eight-batsmen strategy in the first ODI against South Africa to bolster the sagging confidence of the line-up

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur10-Jul-2015Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza has said that the side employed an eight-batsmen strategy in the first ODI against South Africa to bolster the sagging confidence of the line-up. He said the decision was taken despite the fact that five-bowler plan was working in the last nine months.The home side were bowled out for 160 with 3.3 overs to spare in match that was reduced to 40-overs-a-side after rain delays. The score suggests the long batting line-up didn’t work and the bowling attack was left weakened with only four specialist bowlers.”During the World Cup the batsmen were in form,” Mashrafe said. “Back then the bowlers weren’t doing well so we gave them the space to have five bowlers. Now the batsmen aren’t in form, so we wanted them to play with some freedom. Batsmen become comfortable when they think that they are in form.”But when the batsmen are not scoring, we have to support them. Also, we had Mahmudullah to attack their left-handed batsmen, so it was not as if we didn’t have spin-bowling options. We had seven bowlers.”Mashrafe said that Kagiso Rabada’s early hat-trick had much to do with the eight-wicket loss, but there were no demons in the pitch, something Shakib Al Hasan and Nasir Hossain proved during their innings of 48 and 31 respectively.”Obviously the hat-trick was a reason. He [Kagiso Rabada] should be given credit,” Mashrafe said. “Definitely you are on the back foot after those three wickets. The wicket though was really good, Shakib and Nasir proved that.”We had started a partnership. Had Mushy [Mushfiqur] and Shakib extended it a bit more, and if we could have scored 200-220, I believe it could have been a different ball game.”Despite the hat-trick in the fourth over, Soumya Sarkar and later Shakib, Mushfiqur and Nasir batted at a higher tempo than the situation of the match suggested. Most of these batsmen, barring Nasir who was the last wicket to fall in the 37th over, were dismissed soon after they looked settled. Mashrafe said this was an issue the team had to work out soon.”Some batsmen who are getting set are getting out. It’s very difficult to explain this,” he said. “The particular batsman can explain it better. But we have to work this out and come out of this scenario.”I hope that those who are starting and getting runs should finish their job. We need to turn around from this. Maybe we can’t change much after one day’s practice, so we have to change our mentality.”

A brilliant 96 by Sam Northeast off 47 balls powered Kent to a 23-run win over Surrey in the NatWest T20 Blast South Group local derby at Beckenham

ECB/PA29-May-2015
ScorecardSam Northeast made 96 to set Kent up for victory•Getty ImagesA brilliant 96 by Sam Northeast off 47 balls powered Kent to a 23-run win over Surrey in the NatWest T20 Blast South Group local derby at Beckenham.Northeast, who clubbed seven sixes and five fours, was joined by Fabian Cowdrey in a thunderous fourth-wicket stand of 98 in nine overs as Kent ran up 193 for 8 – their highest T20 score against Surrey. That proved too much for Surrey as they finished on 170 for 8.Australia allrounder Moises Henriques scored a 47-ball 63 on his Surrey debut and also took 2 for 24 with the ball, but Kent’s bowlers were always in control and an asking rate of 13 an over for the last five overs, with half their side out, was too much for the visitors.Kent’s third win in four games puts them back on top of the South Group table and immediately puts behind them a wretched performance against Middlesex at Lord’s 24 hours earlier, where they were crushed by 115 runs after being bowled out for 90 inside 15 overs.Insights

Kent are the only county without an overseas players this season but with some exciting young talent they shouldn’t be discounted to mount a decent challenge this season. They followed last week’s stunning win against Hampshire with a tame display at Lord’s on Thursday, but given they were chasing in excess of 200 it’s hard to read too much into the batting display.
Sam Northeast’s two fifties in three innings represent the fulfilment of potential that all his young team need to make if they are to continue to challenge teams with star overseas players and greater international pedigree in a very strong South Group. Surrey meanwhile will be ruing the form of Jason Roy who, leading run-scorer last season, has managed just 13 runs from three innings so far this time around.
Freddie Wilde

Surrey were always up against it after losing both openers Jason Roy and Steven Davies in the first over of their chase.Roy, having hit Matt Coles for two offside fours from the second and third balls of the innings, was lbw to the fourth and Kumar Sangakkara, anxious to get off the mark, called for a sharp single to square leg and saw Northeast’s diving underarm throw score a direct hit on the stumps to run out Davies before he had faced a ball.Sangakkara pulled sixes off Mitch Claydon and Calum Haggett but his quickfire 34 ended when he skied Darren Stevens to deep mid-off. Henriques, who had pulled Claydon for six early in his innings, launched further maximums off Cowdrey and Stevens over long-off, but Surrey’s chances were all but gone by the time he hit Coles straight to Cowdrey at deep cover in the 19th over.Haggett, despite being hit for six by Henriques in his final over, was the pick of Kent’s attack and deservedly picked up the scalp of Azhar Mahmood, just after he had smashed Cowdrey straight for two sixes in the 16th over to keep Surrey’s fading hopes alive.The final over, from Claydon, began with Surrey needing 30 and by then Kent were home and dry.Kent’s innings, which began 20 minutes late due to a heavy shower, was given explosive early impetus by Northeast and Joe Denly following the fall of Daniel Bell-Drummond for 5.The third over, bowled by Mahmood, disappeared for 24 runs as Northeast lifted a no-ball over midwicket for six and then thumped the ensuing free hit in the same direction for four.Kent brought up their 50 in the fourth over, but quickly lost two more wickets when Denly and Sam Billings departed as Kent reached the end of the six-over Powerplay on 60 for 3.Northeast, joined by Cowdrey, immediately revitalised the innings by hitting Gareth Batty’s offspin high over midwicket and long on for successive sixes as he sped towards a 22-ball fifty.Cowdrey warmed to his task with a six and four off the suffering Batty and Kent’s hundred arrived in the 10th over when Northeast drove Zafar Ansari’s first ball for six. The 150 was raised in the 14th over as the fourth-wicket pair continued to score at a good lick.Cowdrey finally toe-ended a short wide ball from Henriques to point and Stevens was brilliantly caught by a diving Curran at third man for one as a flurry of Kent wickets fell towards the end.One of them was acting captain Northeast, who fell just short of his maiden T20 century when he was snared by Curran off the first ball of the final over.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has revealed what impressed him most about youngster Kobbie Mainoo's performance against Everton last weekend.

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Mainoo starts vs EvertonYoung midfielder is stand-out performerTen Hag reveals what impresses him mostWHAT HAPPENED?

The 53-year-old has waxed lyrical about Mainoo's influential performance against the Toffees, after the Red Devils secured a 3-0 win on Sunday.

The 18-year-old was on the bench for the recent 3-3 draw against Galatasaray in the Champions League, but Ten Hag's comments about his performance against Everton could hint at a return to the starting eleven to face Newcastle United this weekend.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT TEN HAG SAID

Speaking ahead of the clash against the Magpies, Ten Hag commented on a possible return to the starting line-up for the young midfielder. "If he's ready or not, he showed on Sunday [vs Everton] he was ready," Ten Hag said. "We have to manage three games in six days to get the best results of all the games. We have more than 11 players, we have good options there. Sofyan [Amrabat] also showed he was playing a very good game. We have the options, you manage the load of the players and it's about freshness as well."

When asked what impressed him most about the midfielder, Ten Hag added: "His scanning. It looks like he always has time because he is scanning, he is running free, then he is scanning to see the options and then make the right decisions. He can delay, he can speed up. He makes the right decisions."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Mainoo's performance in the Premier League is only made more impressive when considering it was his first game in the starting line-up after a four-month spell on the sidelines, after suffering an ankle injury in pre-season.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MAINOO?

After a disappointing draw to Galatasaray on Wednesday, the focus will now shift to a tough clash against Eddie Howe's impressive Newcastle side on Saturday evening. The Red Devils currently sit in sixth place, just one point ahead their upcoming opponents in seventh, highlighting how important the upcoming clash will be.

Chanaka Welegedara equalled the world record for the most economical four-over T20 spell, as Tamil Union handed out a 45-run defeat to Sinhalese Sports Club at the Colombo Cricket Club Ground

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Apr-2015Chanaka Welegedara equalled the world record for the most economical four-over T20 spell, as Tamil Union handed out a 45-run defeat to Sinhalese Sports Club at the Colombo Cricket Club Ground.Welegedara, returning figures of 4-2-2-4, equalled the record set by Chris Morris in a Ram Slam T20 game last year.Tamil Union, led by Welegedara, elected to bat, and posted 142, Kithuruwan Vithanage top-scoring with a 35-ball 42 that included four sixes. Chamara Kapugedara (3 for 14) and Binura Fernando (2 for 17) were the most successful bowlers for SSC.Welegedara struck twice in the fifth over to remove Minod Bhanuka and captain Thilina Kandamby. He then sent back Sachithra Senanayake in the seventh over, before trapping Charith Jayampathi in front in the 11th. At that point, SSC had slumped to 62 for 7, and were eventually bowled out for 97 in 15.3 overs.

Drama in the Netherlands saw the Dutch progress at the expense of Sarina Wiegman's side, despite a hammering of neighbours Scotland

There are unlikely heroes and then there is Damaris Egurrola. England spent most of their Tuesday evening thinking that they had done enough to make the UEFA Women's Nations League finals. The Lionesses had to better the Netherlands' win over Belgium by three goals in order to overturn their inferior goal difference and, until stoppage time in Tilburg, it seemed like mission accomplished. But then Egurrola, the Dutch holding midfielder who is hardly a renowned goal-scorer, netted twice at the absolute death against Belgium to render Lucy Bronze's seemingly decisive header irrelevant. England had beaten Scotland 6-0, but their Nations League and Olympic dreams were over.

For most of the evening, it wasn't actually that dramatic. Poor marking allowed Alex Greenwood to head home a corner on 13 minutes before three goals at the end of the half had Sarina Wiegman's side top of Group 1 at the break. Lauren James' first took a hefty deflection, her second was a stunner and then Beth Mead scored her first England goal in 15 months to make it four.

Fran Kirby made it 5-0 early in the second half after fantastic work from Georgia Stanway and then there was a nervous wait. As Scotland grew into the game and shored up, while being kept at bay brilliantly by Mary Earps at the other end, Belgium managed to keep the Netherlands' lead at just two, despite Dutch pressure. Any change in scoreline would've been seismic.

And then it all came at once. The Netherlands' third, to send them top, was bettered just seconds later by Bronze's header, to send England top, and then, as the Lionesses stood in a nervous huddle on the Hampden Park pitch, Egurrola's second in four minutes saved the Dutch in the most dramatic fashion. It will be they who join Spain, France and Germany in February's finals, while the reigning European champions are left to reflect on what is ultimately, despite the fine margins, a disappointment and a failure of a campaign.

GOAL rates England's players from Hampden Park…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Mary Earps (8/10):

Did brilliantly to thwart Hanson when she pounced on a mistake in the England defence in the second half, then made an outstanding stop in stoppage time.

Lucy Bronze (8/10):

Battled well, always looked to create when she got forward and scored a dramatic goal at the death.

Esme Morgan (6/10):

Good on the ball and swept up well at the back when needed. Nearly made a costly error in the second half but was bailed out by Earps.

Alex Greenwood (7/10):

Broke the deadlock with a precise header. Fantastic in possession and made a vital block to stop Scotland pulling one back.

Niamh Charles (6/10):

Got up the pitch well and created chances.

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Keira Walsh (7/10):

Knocked the ball around well, often kickstarting attacks. Created a great chance for Mead with a stunning pass, too.

Georgia Stanway (7/10):

Pressed well. Fantastic assist for Kirby's goal.

Fran Kirby (7/10):

Wasn't always found when she picked up good positions but certainly was by Stanway for her goal, having drifted into the box brilliantly.

GettyAttack

Beth Mead (7/10):

Great corner delivery for the opener. Showed fantastic composure to net England's fourth.

Lauren Hemp (6/10):

Good movement leading the line. Missed a sitter at 1-0, though, and should've had another in the second half.

Lauren James (8/10):

Scored two goals in two minutes to give England real hope, with the second an absolute beauty.

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Ella Toone (6/10):

Was quiet in her 25 minutes off the bench, but delivered a peach of a cross for Bronze's header.

Alessia Russo (5/10):

Came on at the same time as Toone but couldn't impact the game much.

Sarina Wiegman (7/10):

Made positive changes to the team at Wembley and put out an XI that attacked brilliantly, just falling short. There is a wider conversation about the failure of this Nations League campaign but, on the night, there wasn't much more she could do, bar more changes later on given talents like Chloe Kelly and Rachel Daly were left unused.

The Real Madrid and Juventus centre-backs head up the list of the best defensive players on the new iteration of the game

Getty Images10. Toby Alderweireld | CB | Tottenham | Belgium

Overall rating: 85

Defending: 88
Physical: 78

AdvertisementGetty Images9. Miranda | CB | Inter | Brazil

Overall rating: 85

Defending: 88
Physical: 76

Getty Images8. Thiago Silva | CB | PSG | Brazil

Overall rating: 88

Defending: 88
Physical: 79

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Getty7. Samuel Umtiti | CB | Barcelona | France

Overall rating: 87

Defending: 88
Physical: 82

A round-up of the Regional 4-day Tournament matches that finished on February 16, 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Feb-2015A century from Andre Fletcher and five-wicket hauls by Shane Shillingford and Alston Bobb set up Windward Islands’ crushing win over Jamaica at Arnos Vale. Jamaica chose to bat, but came undone against the left-arm spin of Bobb to be bowled out for 204. Apart from Jermaine Blackwood, who missed a century by four runs, no one made a substantial contribution.Windwards responded strongly with an opening partnership of 75, then faltered briefly as David Bernard ran through the middle order, but then recovered through Fletcher, who registered his fifth first-class century, and was only dismissed after the lead was 120. The innings close four runs later, but that lead proved to be too much for Jamaica as only three of their batsmen were able to get into double-digit scores. Shillingford picked up 6 for 31, his 28th five-wicket haul.Ronsford Beaton and Devendra Bishoo played leading roles as Guyana edged aside bottom-placed Leeward Islands within three days in North South, Antigua. While Beaton’s 4 for 40 was instrumental in restricting Leewards to 139 on the first day, Bishoo’s 6 for 82 ensured the fourth-innings target was limited to 73, which Guyana achieved without much fuss.Leewards, winless in the competition, had a poor start to the match as they stumbled to 84 for 8 before the last two wickets pushed them past 100. As Guyana came out to bat, Rahkeem Cornwall snaffled seven wickets to register his best first-class figures, but before that, Opener Rajindra Chandrika’s 83 had pushed Guyana close to 200 for the loss of three wickets.The 128-run first-innings deficit proved to be difficult to clear as Leewards collapsed from 104 for 3 to 122 for 8, this time against Bishoo’s spin. A 65-run stand for the last wicket gave Leewards just enough time to pick up two wickets in the fourth innings, but couldn’t prevent their sixth loss in six matches.The Barbados bowlers dismissed Trinidad & Tobago cheaply in both innings to secure a 222-run victory at Kensington Oval.Barbados lost the toss and were 93 for 4 in the first innings before Roston Chase and Shane Dowrich made 85 and 92 to help them to 275 before they were dismissed early on the second day. They lost their last six wickets for 25 runs. Imran Khan took 4 for 65 for T&T, while Shannon Gabriel claimed 3 for 40.T&T were dismissed for 60 overs in response for 218. Carlos Brathwaite claimed 4 for 50, while Chase backed up his performance with the bat with 3 for 14. Evin Lewis top scored for T&T with 43.Having secured a lead of 57 in the first innings, Barbados rode on a hundred from Shai Hope to score 278 for 5 before declaring, setting T&T a target of 336. They were dismissed in 50.3 overs in the chase, falling for 113. Tino Best and Brathwaite claimed three wickets apiece to seal Barbados’ crushing win.

Despite a superb 113 from Luke Wright, Yorkshire eventually completed a comfortable victory that keeps them ahead of Nottinghamshire in the race for the County Championship

Jon Culley at North Marine Road18-Aug-2014
ScorecardYorkshire returned to the top of the table after ending Sussex’s resistance•Getty ImagesDespite a superb 113 from Luke Wright, Yorkshire eventually completed a comfortable victory that keeps them ahead of Nottinghamshire in the race for the County Championship, in which the contenders each have three matches to run and is now realistically a three-horse race, with Warwickshire the outsiders.Yorkshire’s lead over Nottinghamshire is extended, in fact, by one point to six, with Warwickshire a further 15 points behind in third place, having effectively ended Somerset’s hopes with their win at Taunton. Nottinghamshire kept Yorkshire in their sights with a five-wicket victory over Northamptonshire, who are all but doomed, which made it particularly important that Andrew Gale’s side did not let this opportunity slip through their grasp.This was acknowledged afterwards by Tim Bresnan, who took what was effectively the match-winning wicket when he dismissed Wright in the afternoon session.”It was not a must-win game because there are three important games left in the season,” Bresnan said. “But we knew that Nottinghamshire had a chance to leapfrog us in the table so it is nice to stay in front of them. We have a game against Notts to come and that is the one we are targeting as crucial.”Having said that, it is important that we keep our focus on the next game against Lancashire at Old Trafford, because they are a good side despite where they are in the table.”There is a great atmosphere in the dressing room right now, as you would expect, and we feel that if we can win one, hopefully two, of our last three games and get a good draw in the other one, we will be there or thereabouts.”Blustery showers delayed the start, with a fierce gale blowing in off the North Sea. The smug faces on the cliff-top paths belonged to those holidaymakers wise enough to bring a decent anorak.The counter-attack launched by Wright on Sunday evening continued, but Yorkshire remained confident that wickets would fall at the other end, no matter how well the England limited-overs specialist put bat to ball.He did play well, too, adding to the argument that his four-day cricket deserves more respect than it tends to be given. He made 113, his third first-class century of the season and his fifth in the last two summers, over which his first-class average stands at 60.88.Wright was the main reason why Yorkshire endured a morning of frustration, cut short by five overs, before Sussex wickets began to fall, although a catching chance put down by Tim Bresnan at fourth slip, when Steffan Piolet was on 15, and a missed opportunity to run out Wright on 69 when Ryan Sidebottom’s throw failed to hit the stumps did not help.The breakthrough came just before lunch, when Piolet, whose support for Wright had already taken him to his best Championship score for Sussex, edged a ball from Steve Patterson, the best of Yorkshire’s bowlers in this match, to Kane Williamson at third slip.Patterson claimed another victim after the break with no addition to the score, as Ben Brown was leg-before, after which it was the introduction of Bresnan at the Trafalgar Square end with 55 overs left in the day that brought the important breakthrough.Wright, whose innings was characterised in the confident aggression with which he reached 100, driving Adil Rashid through the covers for his 16th boundary, had added one more four when he pushed forward to Bresnan’s fourth delivery and was leg before, at which Bresnan celebrated in the manner of Jack Brooks, peeling away on a sweeping run towards the hospitality marquee, where he happened to run into the Headband Warrior himself, who did a little hop before the two embraced.After Wright’s departure, Sussex added only 29 for the last three wickets, which left Yorkshire with a target of 106 runs to win with 39 overs left in the day. They knocked them off with time to spare, losing only Alex Lees, who had smacked one big six off James Tredwell and was looking for another when he top edged a ball from Matt Hobden and was caught at mid-off.Mark Robinson, the former Yorkshire quick who is Sussex’s head coach, pointed out that without Chris Jordan and James Anyon to support Steve Magoffin it was never going to be an even contest against a side he considers as strong as any. But he could not conceal his affection for his former county, nor the fact that he would be delighted to see them take the title. “They are a great county with a passion for producing great cricketers and it is important for English cricket that Yorkshire prosper,” he said.