Yorkshire's Rashid and Wardlaw bring some joy to Bradford in forgettable summer (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Yorkshire's Adil Rashid and Iain Wardlaw bring some joy to Bradford in forgettable summer

7:17pm Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Sport By Graham Hardcastle

Adil Rashid impressed for Yorkshire during what was a memorable day for two of Bradford’s cricketers today.

While Iain Wardlaw was employed as a substitute fielder for England in the Test match at Headingley, leg-spinner Rashid returned one of few impressive performances for his county against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

During a rain-interrupted second day of this LV= County Championship match, which saw only 57.4 overs bowled, the hosts grabbed the initiative by replying to 249 with 175-3, thanks in the main to Stephen Peters’ 74 not out.

Rashid has endured a forgettable summer, having lost his regular starting berth to Azeem Rafiq, but he was the Tykes’ most potent weapon on a slow pitch today during a nine-over spell of 1-25.

While none of Yorkshire’s bowlers were hammered, Peters rarely looked troubled as he shared 66 for the first wicket with Kyle Coetzer and 69 unbroken for the fourth with Rob Newton (40 not out).

“Personally, I feel I bowled pretty well,” reflected Rashid, 24, whose tenth wicket of the campaign was Alex Wakely caught at second slip.

“I felt threatening. I didn't bowl many bad balls. Every ball looked like something might happen but I realise I still have a long way to go. Once I get a couple of wickets, I can really get into my stride.

“Finding my form has been difficult. I haven’t bowled a lot. Coming back into the side, I have wanted to do really well, and that has maybe put pressure on me.

“I’m in the side as a wicket-taker. If you get hit, you get hit. You have to have that mindset as a strike bowler. If you go round the park, then so be it. That puts less pressure on me.

“Even the best players in the world can go through bad patches. Form is temporary, class is permanent. I have been up and down, but I want to come back on a high now.”

Rich Pyrah, suffering from conjunctivitis, and Rafiq were the other wicket-takers, but Yorkshire failed to build on having opened the door by reducing Northants to 106-3 in the afternoon.