County Championship D2, Headingley, day two (close): Northamptonshire 184 & 20-1 v Yorkshire 673-8 dec
Veteran Richard Blakey smashed a career-best 223 as Yorkshire stated their promotion credentials in emphatic style against poor Northamptonshire at Headingley.
Wicket-keeper Blakey, in his 18th season with the Tykes, set a blistering tempo.
He passed his previous best 221 - hit for England A against Zimbabwe in 1989/90 - in less than five hours at the crease, with 35 fours.
New Yorkshire skipper Anthony McGrath promptly declared on 673-8 but there was more action to come as Northants attempted to overhaul a deficit of 489.
Darren Gough, fresh from a three-wicket haul in the first innings, had opener Rob White caught second ball
Australian-born batsman Phil Jaques was 14 not out on his county debut as Northants limped to 20-1 at stumps.
Blakey's successor as vice-captain, Matthew Wood, had earlier continued to impress with the bat, going from his overnight 109 to 157 before he was caught off Graeme Swann.
And there was also a run-a-ball half-century for tailender Chris Silverwood in a seventh-wicket stand of 115.
Yorkshire: M J Wood, C R Taylor, A McGrath (Capt), M J Lumb, G M Fellows, R J Blakey (Wkt), R K J Dawson, C E W Silverwood, D Gough, R J Sidebottom, M J Hoggard.
Northamptonshire: R A White, M J Powell, P A Jaques, J W Cook, D J G Sales (Capt), G L Brophy, T M B Bailey (Wkt), G P Swann, C G Greenidge, J A R Blain, A Nel.
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MMIX
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