Determined Hampshire Secure Draw Against Champions Yorkshire

Yorkshire: 593/9d & 183/8d (68.3 ov)

Hampshire: 453/9d

Match Drawn

Points: Yorkshire 12, Hampshire 10

Hampshire produced a brave and determined display on the final day of the Specsavers County Championship match to secure a draw against Champions Yorkshire at Headingley.

The visitors were seemingly up against it before a ball was even bowled when Fidel Edwards picked up an injury in the warm-up.

However the Hants bowlers produced an outstanding display with the ball, picking up regular wickets throughout the day to end any chance of a Yorkshire win.

James Tomlinson (3-31), Chris Wood (1-21) and Ryan McLaren (2-26) were the pick of the bowlers as Yorkshire finished the day on 183-8 declared at stumps, as Hampshire make the trip back to the The Ageas Bowl with a well-earned nine points.

Hampshire, 450-8 overnight, added only three in 20 minutes before Chris Wood was caught by Adam Lyth at second slip to bring Ryan Sidebottom his fourth wicket and with last man Edwards unable to bat the innings closed, Yorkshire gaining a first innings lead of 140.

Ryan McLaren was unbeaten on 55 from 98 balls with eight boundaries.

Wood, who went off with a knee injury in the first innings was able to open the bowling with Tomlinson who had Alex Lees lbw in the first over and Yorkshire's situation quickly worsened.

Gary Ballance drove Tomlinson straight into the hands of Thomas Alsop at short cover and McLaren joined the attack to claim a wicket in each of his first two overs, both the result of catches by wicketkeeper Adam Wheater. Lyth wafted wildly outside off-stump and Jonny Bairstow received a great delivery which lifted and left him and made contact high up the bat.

Captain Andrew Gale and Jack Leaning did enough to ensure there would be no shock result before one departed shortly after the other and Yorkshire were left with little option but to bat out the draw which came when they declared at the earliest opportunity at 183 for eight, 323 runs ahead.