Andrew Gale may well spend this evening wondering why he did not declare Yorkshire's second innings earlier in the final day, but then hindsight is a wonderful gift to have. Hampshire managed to recover from 35-5 to end the final hour of play on 153-8 to salvage a draw which had looked unlikely when they had stumbled to 35-5 on the final afternoon. Yorkshire take 9 points and Hampshire 6.

(PHOTO: Tim Bresnan on his way to 82 not out at the end of Day 1)

Tim Bresnan took two wickets in 3 balls to set the skittles under the Hampshire batsmen and reduce them to 7-2. Then Ryan Sidebottom's next over saw the score 7-3. Bresnan had Liam Dawson lbw for 2 and Jimmy Adams was caught by Joe Root at short-leg at the second attempt for 4. Jo Myburgh was lbw for 1.

In Bresnan's next over he had Neil McKenzie lbw for 0 and that was 4 wickets for Yorkshire in 14 balls. Sidebottom took a rest with figures of 7-4-13-1 and Bresnan's first spell was a particularly impressive 7-3-7-3.

Steve Patterson and Ajmal Shahzad took over from the new-ball pair and Patterson had James Vince well caught by Adil Rashid at second slip for 22. Hampshire were 35-5 and there were 39.5 overs left in the day. Shahzad did not recapture the accuracy he had shown on the first day.

At tea Hampshire were rocking at 38-5 and Steve Patterson made them feel no better in the 3rd over after the break when he had Nick Pothas lbw for 13. Patterson put in a good stint around the tea interval. I was then told at 4.18pm by a Twitter correspondent that it was chucking it down with rain in Huddersfield and it was on it's way to Headingley. The deluge never arrived.

When Dominic Cork nudged to wide mid-on for 2 which took him to 9, he went past 10,000 first-class runs. As the feat was announced over the tannoy, Cork's side Stoke went 1-0 down in the FA Cup Final. Cork and Sean Ervine were forging a useful stand and the overs remaining started to dribble down. Their partnership reached fifty on 71 balls - Cork's contribution a very patient 16. Ervine went to 53 off 62 balls with 7 fours at 5.29pm.

Adil Rashid broke apart Dominic Cork and Sean Ervine's gallant 73-run partnerhsip when Cork was lbw and Yorkshire had 16 overs left to claim the remaining 3 wickets. Rashid then had Ervine caught by Gale at Mid-off for 55 from 79 balls including 7 fours. There were 13.4 overs left to take the last two Hampshire wickets.

Kabir Ali and Danny Briggs then got their heads down to bat out those final overs as Gale rang the bowling changes at the Rugby Stand End while Adil Rashid twirled his magic at the Kirkstall Lane End. But the Hampshire tail stood firm. Tim Bresnan had left the field with a tight calf and word later was that he was hopeful to play against Kent on Sunday.

Shahzad was thrown the ball for the final few overs, the Yorkshire skipper entrusting his strike bowler with the task of bowling quick and straight at the lower order, but Shahzad struggle to find his line to a chorus of unnecessary jeers from the crowd who were being denied their grand finale.

Yorkshire had declared their second innings at 165-8 and set Hampshire 289 to win from 59 overs (4.89 runs an over). Gerard Brophy did not take the field for Hampshire's innings after receiving painful blows on the hand. The hampshire side had made their intentions very clear by scoring just one run in the first five overs.

Yorkshire lost two quick wickets to Kabir Ali in the second over of the morning. Captain Andrew Gale pushed one to Liam Dawson at second slip and Jonny Bairstow missed a straight one and Yorkshire were 68-5 with a lead of 191 runs. By 11.30am the lead had stretched to 208, but Dominic Cork dug one in short and tangled Adil Rashid up as he feigned to hook, the ball looping up to Adams at point who took a good catch diving forward.

Yorkshire's lead had become 250 when Tim Bresnan (17) edged to slip off Ali. Gerard Brophy and Bresnan had added 40 in 16 overs. Shahzad went to a catch by Dawson at second slip off Ali and Yorkshire were 256 runs ahead at 12.43pm.

Yorkshire lunch at 135-8 a lead of 258 runs, but there is worry for Gerard Brophy (27*) who has been hit on the hand twice and looks in considerable discomfort - he continues after the break. Ryan Sidebottom was then hit on his left hand by Kabir Ali in the first over after lunch - it's a dangerous job this batting lark!

Yorkshire were using up time rather than boosting their run tally and declared at 1.55pm to set Hampshire a victory target of 289 runs in 59 overs. Gerard Brophy ended 37 not out and Ryan Sidebottom unbeaten on 19. Kabir Ali was the pic of the Hampshire bowlers with 4-31 and Dominic Cork added 3 wickets to his first innings 5-for to end with match figures of 56.4 overs, 13 maidens, 8 wickets for 126 runs. A great effort by someone in his 40th year. But would the Hampshire captain have the last laugh?

JAMES BUTTLER at HEADINGLEY

MATCH SCORECARD	CLICK HERE
DAY 1 VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS	CLICK HERE
DAY 2 VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS	CLICK HERE
DAY 3 VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS	CLICK HERE
MARTYN MOXON INTERVIEW AFTER DAY 1	CLICK HERE
AJMAL SHAHZAD INTERVIEW AFTER DAY 2	CLICK HERE
BBC RADIO COMMENTARY	CLICK HERE
YCCC TWITTER FEED	CLICK HERE
LEEDS WEATHER	CLICK HERE
LV=CC DIV 1 POINTS TABLE	CLICK HERE
The WHITE ROSE FORUM	CLICK HERE

DAY THREE REPORT

Yorkshire will take a lead of 185 runs into Day 4 of this match after persistent rain had prevented the bowling of 54 overs when play was officially abandoned at 5.30pm. The Tykes will resume at 62-3 with Andrew Gale on 16 and Jonny Bairstow on 1.

Yorkshire began their second innings with a lead of 123, but were reduced to 4-1 when Adam Lyth flicked at a leg-side delivery and was caught by Nick Pothas. Joe Sayers went shortly after lunch for 7 when he gave Pothas his second victim off Griffiths and Joe Root edged behind off Cork and Yorkshire were 56-3. As soon as Root began his walk to the pavilion the rain came down with Yorkshire's lead 179.

An early tea was taken at 3.10pm and play was to resume at 4.20pm with Yorkshire leading by 179 runs with 7 second innings wickets remaining. The rain then returned and the covers came out again. The umpires inspected at 5.10pm and play resumed at 5.20pm with 23 overs left in the day. If we had got all of those overs in we would have lost 34 overs today. Unfortunately only 3.2 overs were possible and that was that.

Hampshire had resumed Day 3 166 runs behind Yorkshire's first innings total of 355 and with 4 wickets remaining. Dominic Cork went after only 8 runs had been added when he tried to force Ryan Sidebottom off the back foot and was caught by Joe Root at short cover for 11.

Hampshire passed the 206 required to avoid the follow-on with 4 wides from Ajmal Shahzad, but then Andrew Gale made another good change, bringing on Tim Bresnan who had Sean Ervine (23) trapped in front to a full delivery with his second ball of the morning and then Ryan Sidebottom got Danny Briggs lbw for a duck. Gale has enjoyed a good game as captain after winning the toss he has made five changes where a new bowler has taken a wicket in the first over of a new spell (Bresnan twice and Shahzad three times).

The new ball was taken with the score 228 after 80 overs and 3 overs later Kabir Ali aimed a drive at Shahzad and was caught by Steve Patterson at 3rd Man for 16 and Hampshire were 232 all out. Hampshire had added 43 today and lost their last 4 wickets for 35 runs with Ajmal Shahzad taking 5-65. Yorkshire had secured a first innings lead of 123 runs.

JAMES BUTTLER at HEADINGLEY

DAY TWO REPORT

County Championship cricket can provide days of sheer brilliance, where the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune fight with batsman and bowlers in equal measure to provide six hours of dramatic theatre. Today was not one of those days, until very late into the afternoon, as rain interfered, Yorkshire struggled to add 51 runs to their overnight 304 and Hampshire toiled their way to 189-6, still 166 runs behind.

Ajmal Shahzad bowled with impressive pace, accuracy and venom to take 4-48. He struck with his second ball to dismiss Liam Dawson for 19 and it was Shahzad at his very best. It cannot be much fun for a batsman to see him off (6-2-19-1 in his first spell) only to find him replaced by Tim Bresnan who returned for a second spell and immediately encouraged Jimmy Adams (26) to drive at a full ball and the edge was held by Jonny Bairstow. Hampshire were 69-2.

Light rain came for the sixth time at 4.15pm with 34.1 overs remaining so an early tea was taken. 2.2 overs bowled and they were off again with the score still 77-2. The players re-emerged and Shahzad returned to grab another second ball of spell scalp, that of Neil McKenzie for 13, caught by Lyth at first slip to make the score 97-3.

Andrew Gale was getting his bowling changes right. Shahzad then trapped James Vince lbw for 14 and Hampshire were 119-4 and trailing by 236 runs.

Jo Myburgh had been Hampshire’s rock, bringing up his fifty from 108 balls with 5 fours and a six with an off-driven four off Rashid followed by a pulled six from the same bowler. Ryan Sidebottom bowled Nick Pothas for 9 and Steve Patterson produced a much improved spell from the Kirkstall Lane End before Shahzad took over and had Myburgh caught behind to reduce Hampshire to 176-6.

Sean Ervine (16) and Dominic Cork (6) will resume for Hampshire tomorrow morning.

A frustrating day, where the early action mirrored the grey Headingley skies, began with high hopes that Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad could pass 350 within the required 110 overs to secure a 4th batting point. Bresnan added just 5 runs to his overnight score before edging Kabir Ali behind for 87 to deny him his first first-class hundred since 2007. Bresnan and Shahzad had added 108 for the 8th wicket.

Mackenzie put down a regulation first slip chance from Shahzad when on 48 to leave bowler, Dominic Cork, less than impressed and Shahzad pushed 'showing greater application with the bat' to the extreme as he batted for 58 balls of the morning session to add six singles to his overnight 42. He was left on 48 for 35 minutes while facing 27 balls as Yorkshire never threatened more than 3 batting bonus points, but denied Hampshire a 3rd bowling point in the process.

Shahzad was eventually caught by Dawson at slip from a Cork delivery to leave Yorkshire 335-9 as the Tykes lost their way at Headingley. Rain saw play suspended for the first time at 12.20pm and led to an early lunch. Steve Patterson was then Cork's fifth victim as Yorkshire were finally bowled out for 355. Cork’s spells today totalled 17.4 overs, contained 7 maidens and took 2-15 to firmly put the brakes on the home side’s progress.

JAMES BUTTLER at HEADINGLEY

DAY ONE REPORT

Yorkshire ended Day 1 of their LV= County Championship match on 304-7 after Jonathan Bairstow (83) and Tim Bresnan (82 from 156 balls) rescued them from a perilous 99-5 just after lunch. Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad (42 from 111 balls) added an unbroken 99 for the 8th wicket as the day ended honours even at Headingley.

Tim Bresnan, playing his first first-class match since the Ashes winning 5th Test match during the winter, and his first in any cricket since the World Cup Quarter-Final at the end of March, went to his half century with a six as he and Ajmal Shahzad showed the watching England selector, James Whitaker, that they are more than handy with bat as well as ball.

Bresnan, who had edged the returning Kabir Ali between first and second slip when on 34, reached his fifty from 96 balls with 6 fours and 1 six while Shahzad was uncharacteristically, and refreshingly, circumspect at the other end as the pair added their first 50 in 114 balls. When Bresnan reached 72 it was his highest innings for Yorkshire in the Championship since he scored 97 against Worcestershire at New Road in June 2009.

Shahzad then started to open up, hooking Griffiths into the North East Stand for six and bringing up the 300 with a glorious shot off the back foot from a Danny Briggs delivery just before the close. His concentration was evident, walking to square leg between deliveries, desperate not to give the bowler an easy scalp.

Yorkshire, who picked an XI with 10 Academy graduates, had won the toss in a match between two sides who are quickly forgetting the winning feeling in Championship cricket. Batting first looked unwise when Joe Sayers was lbw in Griffith's first over to give the right-armer his 13th Championship scalp of the summer in a probing opening spell from the Rugby Stand End. Sayers had made 4 and seemed unlucky to go to a ball that appeared to be going over. In the next over Dominic Cork got one to come back into Adam Lyth (2) which took the off-bail and Yorkshire were 6-2.

Andrew Gale and Joe Root then combined to partially rescue Yorkshire on a pitch that appeared to be gradually losing its demons, but with the first ball of Sean Ervine's spell, the 17th over of the Yorkshire innings, Gale swished at a wide leg-side delivery and the resulting edge was well held by Nick Pothas who moved a long way to his right.

Joe Root was unfortunate to be run out shortly before lunch for 35. Jonny Bairstow drove Ervine straight, the bowler got a finger on the ball and Root was stranded at the non-strikers to make the score 78-4. Root had looked composed after coming in at 6-1 and showed admirable application as he tried to see his side through to lunch, only to be sawn-off in the unluckiest of fashion.

Gerard Brophy went shortly after the break when he tried to hit Cork through mid-wicket and was hit in line to take the score to 99-5. Adil Rashid played some crisp drives in his 18, but waved at a ball from the returning Ali and was pouched by James Vince at third slip.

Jonny Bairstow celebrated his call-up to the England Lions squad with a fine 83 before dragging Cork on to a ball, with hindsight, he would have preferred to leave alone. His 130 ball stay included 13 fours and followed 205 scored at Trent Bridge last week. He is seeing it like a beach ball and added 62 for the 7th wicket with Tim Bresnan to take Yorkshire to 205-7.

Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad will resume for Yorkshire tomorrow morning.

JAMES BUTTLER at HEADINGLEY

YORKSHIRE XI

Andrew GALE (c), Adam LYTH, Joe SAYERS, Joe ROOT, Jonny BAIRSTOW (wk), Gerard BROPHY, Tim BRESNAN, Adil RASHID, Ajmal SHAHZAD, Ryan SIDEBOTTOM, Steve PATTERSON.

Sport can be cruel and Richard Pyrah must be cursing his luck after sustaining an injury at Canterbury that robs him of the chance of continuing his excellent early season form. Pyrah subluxed his knee cap - the kneecap came away from the knee and then returned - which is why Rich was in so much pain. He will miss a few weeks cricket, but it could have been a lot worse - there is no ligament damage and hopefully he'll be back on the pitch soon.

Pyrah's absence gives Andrew Gale less of a selection headache though, with the returning Tim Bresnan a straight swap. Bresnan is fit again after his winter’s heroics and looked like he’d never been away as he took 3 wickets in Sunday’s CB40 win against Kent.

Anthony McGrath is still absent with sciatica - he has had a second epidural and is back on a fitness programme. The Club will not rush his return but he's on track.

HAMPSHIRE XI

Jimmy ADAMS, Sean ERVINE, Liam DAWSON, Nic POTHAS, Dominic CORK (c), James VINCE, David GRIFFITHS, Danny BRIGGS, Neil McKENZIE, Kabir ALI and Johann MYBURGH 

THIS WEEK'S OPPOSITION

Hampshire captain, Dominic Cork, leads a Royals side this year that are yet to win in Division 1 and sit just above Worcestershire in 8th place in the table.

The Royals have been robbed of key players through injury with Michael Carberry, Simon Jones, Dimi Mascarenhas and Nick Pothas missing some or all of the games. Pothas looks set to return against the Tykes and Kabir Ali, who took 4 wickets for Hampshire 2nd XI last week, is also in contention for a 1st Team start.

Liam Dawson has stood up and hit 480 Championship runs at 68.57 while the consistent opener Jimmy Adams has scored 327 at 46.71. Hampshire have relied heavily on the wickets of Griffiths (12 at 29.16) and Danny Briggs (18 at 34.11).

MATCH PREVIEW

Hampshire are Yorkshire’s guests at Headingley between Wednesday and Saturday this week and Andrew Gale will be keen to build on the progress made against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in the last round of Championship fixtures.

Yorkshire currently sit in 6th place in Division 1. Speaking after the CB40 defeat to Derbyshire, Andrew Gale called for his team to step up for a big week in the Championship at Trent Bridge and in the CB40 away in Kent. The skipper got the reaction he was hoping for.

At Trent Bridge, Yorkshire were exceptional with the bat. Jonathan Bairstow’s 205, his maiden century, was an innings those that have watched him regularly knew he was capable of. It was a wonderful exhibition and will give the 21-year-old huge confidence for the rest of the season.

Joe Root too is growing into 1st Team cricket and looks more assured with every game he plays.

There were no signs of the top order frailties that have blighted Yorkshire’s campaign in previous weeks.

If it hadn’t been for a headless afternoon with the bat at Headingley and some brutal swinging by Andre Adams and Ben Phillips in Nottingham, Yorkshire could easily have been reviewing a win-double against the defending Champions. Yes, there is room for improvement. Yes, there have been disappointing sessions in each game. But, for most of the two Notts games Yorkshire were dominant and looked the better side.

There is much to be happy with, but plenty more work to do.

JAMES BUTTLER