White Rose still to catch fire as rain dampens chances

The last day of this game was comatose by comparison as the match meandered to a soporific stalemate.

At 4.50pm, with only die-hard spectators left in the ground, the teams shook hands on a predictable draw.

It was a fair result between counties who were many bookmakers’ favourites to win promotion.

From what we have seen so far, Yorkshire look the likelier to justify that tag.

Whereas the nine points gained here left them second in the table, Hampshire are stuck in fifth position, having won only one of their opening six fixtures.

Yorkshire, who had won their two previous Championship fixtures going into this match, still give the impression they have yet to fire fully.

One gets the feeling there is still more to come, that they have not yet performed to maximum capability, a sentiment one does not necessarily associate with a Hampshire side also relegated last summer.

In fairness to the visitors, they drove this game after winning the toss and electing to bat in sunny weather.

A first day total of 352-5, underpinned by an unbeaten hundred by former Yorkshire batsman Simon Katich, laid the foundation for a score of 427 and meant Yorkshire had to make 278 to avoid the follow-on.

As sunshine gave way to default drabness, or seemingly so in this soggiest of summers, it was no easy task, and the home side were indebted to a fine century by Anthony McGrath, along with fifties from Phil Jaques and Gary Ballance, plus an important lower-order contribution from Ryan Sidebottom to take them out of trouble. After slipping to 237-7, Yorkshire showed resilience as their last three wickets added 162 before Hampshire closed day three on 21-1, a lead of 49.

Consequently, there was little prospect of a positive result going into the last day; less so after play began 90 minutes late after light rain accounted for 24 overs.

That frustrating period at least gave those taking shelter in Headingley Carnegie’s Long Room the chance to watch Jonny Bairstow’s maiden Test innings on television.

It was an innings that was perhaps not unlike this game, with Bairstow showing moments of high promise before an anti-climactic conclusion when he fell for 16.

As interest diverted from Lord’s to Leeds, Hampshire advanced their total to 73-1 before a late lunch was taken at 1.30pm.

Jimmy Adams and Michael Carberry did the advancing: the former nudging sweetly, the latter driving powerfully.

Carberry took a liking to Adil Rashid, whom he rocked back to cut for four and then pulled for four in vicious manner.

It was another largely disappointing game for the leg-spinner, who continues to work hard but faces an increasing fight to keep off-spinner Azeem Rafiq out of the side.

There was better fare from Sidebottom, McGrath, Steve Patterson and Joe Root, who afforded captain Andrew Gale control, but the cricket was of no more than academic quality.

Adams fell one short of a half-century when he was caught behind off Iain Wardlaw, the only wicket to fall on Saturday.

Hampshire finished on 191-2, with Carberry and Katich both unbeaten on 61, as the game duly took its place in the pantheon of obscurity.