Hampshire Humiliated

Newly-promoted Hampshire are discovering [the hard way] that there is no shame in losing to high-flying Yorkshire. In fact, now that the Tykes have something approaching their full complement of players to choose from, then there is certainly no disgrace in coming second against such a lethal outfit. In the visitors' defence, the county champions did not dominate from beginning to end, but the four-day format clearly suits Yorkshire because the longer the match went on, the more formidable they became. 

Having said that, an obdurate stand between the rookie McManus and Smith that took Hampshire through to lunch on the final day threatened to steal a draw from the clutches of defeat. However, Will Rhodes, who did not have a distinguished match, did at least redeem himself with the crucial partnership-breaking wicket as McManus was caught behind by his opposite number, Jonny Bairstow. Thereafter, it was left to Adil Rashid to perform his party trick of running through a tail like the proverbial knife through hot butter. 

Yorkshire's second triumph from four outings however owed itself largely to some decent batting performances which cemented the hosts' eventual superiority. Obviously winning the toss, for a change, helped Yorkshire sit in the driving seat, but it took a big stand between Bairstow and Leaning to ensure a decent first-innings total. Then second time around, it was the turn of our import, Pujara to provide a big century, ably supported by the consistent Bairstow. Leaning and Lyth both also made runs in each innings, so it represented a few good days at the office for batsmen and bowlers alike. Now Yorkshire sit nicely poised in third position, narrowly behind Durham and the runaway leaders of Middlesex. Two matches against each of those two rivals will supply a better idea of who is likely to be England's top county this year.

YORKSHIRE versus Hampshire; at Leeds; Sunday the 10th of May to Wednesday the 13th of May. YORKSHIRE won the toss.

YORKSHIRE first innings: 370 (Bairstow 102, Leaning 82, Lyth 53; Tomlinson 4-86, Adams 3-68)

Hampshire first innings: 227 (Carberry 97; Brooks 4-57, Rashid 4-70)

YORKSHIRE second innings: 305 for four declared (Pujara 133*, Bairstow 59)

Hampshire second innings: 143 (Smith 64*; Rashid 4-48, Brooks 3-31)

YORKSHIRE win by 305 runs. YORKSHIRE 23 points, Hampshire 4 points.

Lyth - Seventy-six runs and three catches were a commendable return for a man who has little left to prove to the national selectors. Test cricket beckons this time.

Lees - Alex really filled the void of the absent Lyth, but now that he is the junior partner once more, he seemed to go into his shell and made only seventeen runs.

Pujara - 151 runs in the match was a lot more like it from our overseas stand-in. The Indian maestro's second-innings knock consisted of seventeen fours and a six.

Gale - Scores of thirty and twelve underline the captain's inconsistency and failure to build upon his fine effort in the previous match against Warwickshire. 

Bairstow - His swashbuckling first innings amounted to virtually a run every ball. A second decent score followed. Is Buttler really an improvement upon Jonny B? 

Leaning - A quick-scoring forty-three off thirty-two balls second time around emphasised that Jack is in confident form. He has really cemented his place at last.

Rashid - A duck egg in the first innings can be overlooked, courtesy of his 8 wickets. His second-innings bowling was a lot more economical than the first innings.

Rhodes - Will ended up with two wickets at a cost of 35 runs from fifteen overs. That was an admirable effort after he had failed with the bat, scoring just four.

Bresnan - The big all-rounder weighed in with 28 runs and two wickets, costing 58 runs from 29 overs. His contribution was actually immense.

Patterson - Just like Tim, Steve did not grab the headlines with many wickets but he bowled with his usual accuracy and deservedly took the match-clinching wicket.

Brooks - A match return of 7 for 78 was superb. Brooks steaming in at Lords against the New Zealanders would be quite a sight. Alas it probably won't happen.