Hampshire make solid progress on uneven Headingley wicket

Hampshire made solid progress on the opening day of the Frizzell County Championship match with reigning champions Yorkshire, despite the high winds and squally showers.

Interrupted on three more occasions after the start was delayed 45 minutes due to heavy overnight rain, Hampshire's innings centred on a second wicket stand of 145 between half-centurions Will Kendall and John Crawley.

Their innings' of varying calibre - Crawley stroking fifteen sweetly timed boundaries in his 79 while Kendall was more circumspect and calculated in reaching his seasons-best of 67 - putting Hampshire in control.

Three wickets fell in quick succession however. Crawley, instead of going forward to a ball that stopped on him, was bowled by spinner Richard Dawson and Kendall was comprehensively yorked in the next over to England paceman Matthew Hoggard.

It may have been the second time Kendall was bowled as Yorkshire claimed he inside-edged a Chris Silverwood ball onto his stumps when on 34.

However, with the stiff wind continually blowing the bails off, umpires Mervyn Kitchen and Allan Jones had earlier decided to remove them completely, leaving no-one certain if the ball had hit the uprights or not.

Neil Johnson became Hoggard's third victim, edging to wicket-keeper Richard Blakey, reducing Hampshire from a comfortable 181-1 to a perilous 201-4.

Robin Smith and Giles White eased the fears with a quick-fire half century stand in just twelve overs before the return of Silverwood accounted for White with his first ball of the new spell, a delivery that kept decidedly low.

Just four balls later, Smith received a ball that rose sharply and induced the edge through to keeper Blakey for 41. Dimi Mascarenhas also suffered one that barely bounced when he was bowled - the fourth such in the innings - to Steve Kirby.

The alarming variety of bounce in the pitch may see the knocks of Crawley and Kendall materialise into decisive ones. With four batsmen bowled and the other three all caught behind, it speaks volumes of the state of the wicket.

But runs in the bank may just prove enough as Hampshire closed the gusty Friday on 273-7.