Honours even after first day in vital relegation clash

As Frizzell County Championship matches go, this encounter between relegation threatened Hampshire and Yorkshire was a vital win or bust for both teams. After the first day, honours are even, and all to play for.

Robin Smith won Hampshire's first championship home toss since May, and elected to have first use of a wicket still under scrutiny from the authorities. Despite the presence all day of pitch inspector Raman Subba Row, the groundsman should have been satisfied, that only twelve wickets fell on a mixed day of mugginess and sunshine.

Yorkshire lost Chris Silverwood after bowling just 5 overs, when he sustained a knee injury, and did not field for the rest of the day.

Neil Johnson and Jason Laney gave the home side a good start posting a half century opening stand (a rare event this season for Hampshire), before both were dismissed to the nagging pace of Ryan Sidebottom with his bushy hair flowing in his run up.

John Crawley playing in his first championship match since July flattered briefly before finding his middle stump up-ended by swing of McGrath. Francis went without scoring after attempting to pull the same bowler to square leg and was well caught by the substitute fielder Matthew Wood.

Robin Smith and his vice captain Will Kendall set up a useful stand until the latter edged to slip, then Smith himself was palpably lbw falling over to Kirby. The red headed fiery Yorkshireman giving the skipper his trade mark send off.

Another late partnership gave the total some respectability when Shaun Udal and James Hamblin held up Yorkshire's progress, but the final tally of 269 was perhaps short by some 50 runs in the end.

Dimitri Mascarenhas got a ball to rear to have Vic Craven caught at mid-wicket, and Chris Taylor snapped up by Laney off Udal, to give the balance of the game an even look.