Cricket: Gough's gainful spell

Warwickshire 163-4 v Yorkshire

DARREN GOUGH made an encouraging return for Yorkshire after a month's absence through injury in yesterday's weather-affected County Championship match here.

The England pace bowler's calf tendon problem had ruled him out of the first Test against New Zealand, but he showed no ill effects as he sent down a total of 14 overs in three spells for a cost of 39 runs that included the wicket of Anurag Singh.

Gough took the new ball and was understandably a little tentative at first after such a lengthy lay-off. He returned to the attack before lunch at the Pavilion End and another four-over assault saw him concede nine runs. But by the time he returned after tea following a lengthy break for rain, Gough was running in uninhibited. He finally earned some tangible reward for his efforts in his 12th over when Singh tried to withdraw the bat but only succeeded in diverting the ball on to his stumps.

Gough had bowled six overs in his second spell at a cost of 16 runs when bad light and then rain intervened and brought a premature end to proceedings after the loss of 48 overs. The Warwickshire captain, Nick Knight, elected to bat and his second-wicket stand of 91 in 34 overs with fellow left- hander David Hemp was the main feature of the innings. Knight and Mark Wagh had put on 47 when Wagh (19) cut a rank long hop from Gavin Hamilton in the hands of Greg Blewett at cover.

Knight and Hemp accumulated effectively, with the former reaching his 50 off 118 balls with six boundaries. But after making 59 Knight only succeeded in lofting Chris Silverwood to Hamilton at wide mid-on. Hemp completed his half century off 111 balls with eight fours via a lucky inside edge for four off Silverwood.