YORKSHIRE displayed their intention to attack, attack, attack during this summer’s LV= County Championship title defence by attempting to chase down 352 in the final two sessions of their draw against Warwickshire at Headingley today.

The White Rose went after a stiff target set in 68 overs, only to lose a couple of key wickets in Cheteshwar Pujara and Andrew Gale shortly after tea to leave themselves at 136-4 with just over 32 overs remaining.

It meant that with ex-New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel, arguably the best spinner on the circuit, in the wickets and bowling nicely, they were forced to settle for a nine-point draw.

That was secured through a calm unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 85 inside 29 overs between Andrew Hodd and Jack Leaning, who made 54 and 35 respectively to help the champions close on 221-4 from 64.

“We were having a crack at the target, but losing Pujara and Galey in quick succession, that made it very difficult,” said coach Jason Gillespie.

“Our plan was to try and go at four an over for about ten overs immediately after tea, which would have left us with 28 overs to go and we would see where we were at. Maybe then we’d have had a red hot go at it."

Gillespie, like the rest of us, was surprised to see Warwickshire continue their second innings beyond lunch, especially following the loss of eight overs to weather during the morning.

“In my view, had they given themselves enough time to have a crack with a second new ball, it could have been a very different game,” he added.

“We’d look to be a lot more pro-active.

“We sort of worked out Warwickshire’s game-plan during the third afternoon when they were going at a shade under three runs an over trying to set up the game. They showed their intent there, or lack of.

“We knew they were going to completely bat us out of the game and then try and bowl 65-70 overs at us. That’s exactly how it worked out. You certainly won’t see us going and playing like that.”