Swann glides into record books

Yorkshire 294 & 3-1 v Lancashire 301-9 dec

Northampton-born Alec Swann turned out to be the man who made Roses history, not Yorkshire's brand new Australian Matt Elliott. Swann, 25, who joined Lancashire from his home county this season, became the first Lancastrian to score a century in each of his first two Roses matches, in a series that goes back to 1849.

He made a defiant 128 at Headingley in July as Lancashire, facing a deficit of 515, fought back to get the better of a draw. Yesterday his task was easier, batting on a flatter pitch against a Yorkshire attack that contained only one capped bowler but, as Denis Compton once famously said, after a summer in which he scored 18 centuries: "You still have to go out and do it".

At Northampton Swann is remembered as a batsman of restraint and diligence: here he has bloomed as an attacker, leaving the job of anchoring the innings to Mark Chilton. The pair are becoming a settled partnership, a cornerstone in any successful team.

Yorkshire had indicated that the pitch was less susceptible to seam when they extended their ninth wicket partnership to 46 in 20 overs before James Anderson wrapped up the innings to finish with 5 for 61, decorative figures for a 19-year-old to take home to Burnley.

Chilton and Swann then started against a returning Steve Kirby, who has missed most of the summer with back strain, and, after Chris Silverwood, debutant 17-year-old Nick Thornicroft, right arm fast medium, from Sheriff Hutton. Kirby should have dismissed Swann on 47 when he induced a snick that Elliott, at second slip, failed to hold.

The opening stand reached 145 before Kirby found a beauty to flatten Chilton's off stump. Kirby, now a fighting cock, greeted his old skipper David Byas with a ball into his shoulder. Byas, as impassive as gritstone, was then undone by one of his fledglings, Richard Dawson. The off-spinner was able to bowl into the footholds against the left-handers; one ball flew off pad, might have flicked glove and was taken by a diving short leg. Byas did not wait for the finger, he lifted his bat and walked.

Stuart Law re-asserted Australia's reputation by smacking Dawson straight for a huge six but just as a thin attack was in danger of severe exposure, Yorkshire were rallied by some brilliant catching by Anthony McGrath and Gary Fellows at cover and short midwicket. Lancashire's hard-won advantage was snatched away.

Lancashire captain Warren Hegg batted last, with a dislocated little finger, to sweep his team into the lead before making a cheeky declaration that brought disaster to Chris Taylor, who was out second ball (according to the third umpire) in both innings.