Three late wickets relieve Hampshire after day of toil

3,000 spectators attended the first day of the Frizzell Championship match at North Marine Ground, Scarborough between Yorkshire and Hampshire. Yorkshire having won the toss a chosing to bat found the wicket low and slow, in fact Steve Fleming the New Zealander took 40 balls to get off the mark.

James Bruce retained his place after his efforts in the amazing win over Glamorgan, which meant no place for Alan Mullally still recovering from his ham-string injury, and the two other injured players, Robin Smith and Nic Pothas failed the early morning fitness test.

Iain Brunnschweiler was finally given his Championship debut as wicket-keeper.

Yorkshire lost their first wicket when Fleming who had struggled, played too early to a slower ball from James Bruce and was comfortably caught at mid-on by Chris Tremlett. Skipper Martin Wood found Vic Craven a good ally as the pair slowly took command, sharing a 94 run 2nd wicket partnership, before Craven became the first of Dimitri Mascerenhas's lbws.

The third wicket stand then lasted until well after tea, with Wood passing his third century of the season, until finally he was well caught by Hampshire captain John Crawley having slashed the perservering Tremlett to mid wicket. His innings of 155 lasted for 5 hours 39 minutes in which time he faced 299 balls and had stroked and pulled his way to 19 fours.

The next over saw the end of Michael Lumb who had batted for two hours, before he was adjudged lbw off Mascerenhas. Former England all-rounder Craig White then had the ignominity of being dismissed first ball when he failed to play a shot at a Mascerenhas inswinger.

Chris Tremlett bowled with a lot of heart and should have received a better return for his efforts. Mascarenhas was the pick of the bowlers taking three vital wickets. James Bruce bowled with some venom at times, he is a strong boy and the experience he is gaining will serve him well in the future.

Shaun Udal returning after a shoulder injury had made him miss the last match, bowled 20 consecutive overs in the afternoon, and he finished with an economical set of figures, and was unlucky not to have dismissed Wood earlier, when a catch was dropped at slip.

Indian Test batsman Yuvraj Singh and wicket-keeper Simon Guy survived to the end, but after a day of toil Hampshire will not be too disatisfied with their day at the seaside.