Yorkshire pile up huge total
Former England batsman Anthony McGrath scored a century for Yorkshire as bottom-placed Hampshire endured another miserable day in the field at the Rose Bowl
03-Aug-2011
Former England batsman Anthony McGrath scored a century for Yorkshire as bottom-placed Hampshire endured another miserable day in the field at the Rose Bowl. McGrath recorded the 33rd hundred of his first-class career as the visitors made the most of batting first on an easy-paced wicket to amass a first-innings total of 532.
In response, Hampshire, needing 383 to avoid the follow-on, then lost openers Liam Dawson and Jimmy Adams with only 59 on the board. But Michael Carberry, fit again after blood clot problems, and Neil McKenzie took their side through to the close at 116 for 2, still 416 behind.
Yorkshire resumed at the start of the second day on 318 for 3 with McGrath 65 not out. With Gary Ballance as his fourth-wicket partner, the pair put on 157 in 47 overs as Hampshire quickly ran out of ideas.
Hampshire's cause was not helped by the loss of their captain Dominic Cork with a shin injury, and in his place Hampshire were obliged to use spinners Danny Briggs and Imran Tahir for the majority of Yorkshire's innings of almost 172 overs.
Of those, Tahir and Briggs bowled more than 100 and took eight of the wickets, Tahir finishing with 6 for 132 and Briggs taking 2 for 127.
The fourth wicket partnership came to a conclusion at 361 when Ballance was bowled by Briggs, but McGrath went on to bat for almost five and a half hours for his 115 before he drove Sean Ervine to Adams at mid-wicket.
Even in McGrath's absence, there was no let-up for Hampshire as Gerard Brophy made a rapid half-century while Adil Rashid drove freely for his 38. Brophy eventually fell to a smart return catch by Tahir diving to his left after making 53, while Rashid was snared at slip as the spinners at last got some response.
Hampshire faced a daunting task just to keep the match alive after almost two days in the field, but at 38 they lost Dawson to a catch at the wicket off Ryan Sidebottom. Adams made 29 before he edged left-arm spinner David Wainwright also to wicketkeeper Brophy.
At that stage Hampshire were threatening to drop into trouble, but Carberry and McKenzie (30no) at least prevented any further setbacks in the evening session. Carberry, in only his third first-class match back following his illness, showed signs of returning to form with seven boundaries in his unbeaten 37.
