Match Preview: Yorkshire v Hampshire - Specsavers County Championship

Hampshire will be hoping to claim a third successive Specsavers County Championship victory as they head to Headingley to take on Yorkshire in the penultimate round of four-day action this week.

Just 11 points are required over the remaining two matches against Yorkshire and Lancashire to guarantee safety.

Hampshire Squad

A 13-man squad has been named for this week’s four-day contest, with just one change to that named for victories against Worcestershire and Somerset in the last two weeks as Ryan Stevenson replaces Dale Steyn, who’s stint with the Club has now concluded.

Kyle Abbott has been in terrific form in so far this month with the seamer picking up his maiden Championship 10-wicket haul and his fourth five-for in five innings against Somerset last week. He currently sits fifth in the list of the top first-class wicket-takers, with 47 scalps at an average of just 20.91, and the right-armer will be hoping to continue that excellent run in the season’s closing stages.  

The Opposition:

A crucial victory in last week’s Roses clash ensured Yorkshire held on to sixth place and moved 14 points ahead of Lancashire in an intriguing relegation battle in Division One. That victory handed Steven Patterson’s side their fourth win of the campaign and they’ll be aiming to further enhance their chances of survival with a positive result against Hampshire this week.

Gary Ballance has been the hosts’ main contributor with the bat so far this season, totalling 611 runs at an average of 32.15, whilst Jack Brooks, who is set to join Somerset at the end of the campaign and will be playing his final home fixture at Headingley this week, has been the best performer with the ball with 42 first-class wickets to his name in 2018.

Did You Know?

• Kyle Abbott has claimed 19 wickets at an incredible average of just 7.31 in his last two matches.
• Jimmy Adams struck a magnificent 147 in a high-scoring draw when these two sides met earlier this year.
• Hampshire are unbeaten in the last five four-day contests against Yorkshire.

Full Hampshire Squad

Coverage:

Match updates will be available via the Hampshire Cricket social media channels, whilst ball-by-ball coverage and match highlights will be available at ageasbowl.com/cricket.

There will be ball-by-ball commentary available on BBC Radio Solent online at bbc.co.uk.

Weather Forecast:

Please follow the link for the latest weather forecast for Headingley: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/map/gcwfhhc2f