Report

Donald's misadventure helps Lyth break his duck

Hampshire's new signing Aneurin Donald gamely took up wicketkeeping duties after Tom Alsop damaged a thumb but it didn't turn out well

Adam Lyth scores through the leg side  •  Getty Images

Adam Lyth scores through the leg side  •  Getty Images

Yorkshire 184 (Edwards 4-84) and 287 for 5 (Lyth 134*) lead Hampshire 157 (Bresnan 5-28) by 314 runs
Scorecard
Adam Lyth completed his first Specsavers County Championship century since last June during the morning session of a rain affected third day against Hampshire at Emerald Headingley, helped in no small part by an emergency appearance behind the stumps by Aneurin Donald which did not go all that well.
Opener Lyth reached 100 for the 23rd time in his first-class career as Yorkshire strengthened their grip on this penultimate round clash against Hampshire who nevertheless had cause for relief when their Division One safety was mathematically confirmed by Worcestershire's defeat at Essex.
Craig White, Hampshire's coach, said: "The last few years we've been coming into the last game of the season in a massive relegation battle. With one game left, knowing we're safe is quite a relief actually. But we haven't been at our best in this game compared to the last couple where we were very good."
Lyth all but killed Hampshire's prospects of a successful final-day chase when he advanced from 60 overnight to 134 not out. Yorkshire, leading by 27 on first innings, stretched their lead to 314 with five wickets remaining before rain arrived during the lunch break and washed out the remainder of the day.
If Yorkshire force victory on the final day, they will also confirm their Division One status. A draw would leave them needing a maximum of just two points from next week's final round clash with Worcestershire at New Road, so they would be satisfied with that outcome as well.
Lyth has endured a largely frustrating season, with only two half-centuries prior to this. He completed a fifth-wicket stand of 133 inside 42 overs with Jonny Tattersall, who added 43.
Both men were dropped during the 33 overs bowled - Lyth twice - on a disaster-strewn emergency session with the gloves by substitute fielder Donald who dropped two catches and contributed to the missing off another one.
Donald took the gloves following a left thumb injury suffered by regular keeper Tom Alsop. Alsop went for a scan with Hampshire fearing a fracture and ligament damage and he has already been ruled out of their final Championship match next week against Lancashire at the Ageas Bowl
Donald, diving to his right, impaired first slip Ian Holland when Tattersall, on 16, got an edge off Kyle Abbott as he tried to leave alone. Lyth was then dropped twice, both times by Donald off Liam Dawson's left-arm spin.
The first came when he was on 80 - Dawson's first ball of the morning. The second came when he was on 94. And next ball, there was a convincing appeal for caught behind turned down by umpire Graham Lloyd.
Dawson took the only wicket to fall during the morning, Tattersall caught at short fine-leg sweeping as the score fell to 265 for five in the 73rd over.