County Championship: Baker leads Hants fightback against Yorkshire

George Hill’s impressive 5-46 for Yorkshire and three wickets in a devastating over for Hampshire speedster Sonny Baker headlined a bowling day at the start of this County Championship match at Headingley.

There was a nod to Yorkshire’s future and past today, with seam-bowling all-rounder Hill – aged 23 – coming up against Jake Lehmann, the son of White Rose batting legend Darren, who top-scored with a well-paced 76 in 251 all out.

Both impressed in what was looking like Yorkshire’s day. That was until England Test hopeful Baker tore in late in the day to trap Sam Whiteman lbw and bowl Ben Coad and James Wharton as the home side ended the day tottering at 48-4.

After Hampshire were inserted, left-handed Lehmann’s 11 fours in 93 balls looked as if it was keeping them afloat in helpful bowling conditions.

It was Lehmann’s first Hampshire fifty, having briefly represented Yorkshire as an overseas player in late 2016.

While Yorkshire made two changes from their opening round draw at Glamorgan – Jhye Richardson and wicketkeeper Harry Duke for Logan van Beek and fractured thumb victim Jonny Bairstow – Hampshire were unchanged from their innings home defeat to Essex.

The hosts made the ideal start through Australian Test quick Richardson, whose ninth ball forced Joe Weatherley to push forwards and feather behind, leaving the score at one for one.

Opener Nick Gubbins, whose University days were spent in Leeds, drove nicely to lead the fightback against some early assistance for the quicks but fell just after lunch for 43 when he was caught at third slip off Jack White.

That left Hampshire at 95-3, with Tom Prest having fallen just before the break when trapped lbw by Hill for 35. Gubbins and Prest had shared a second-wicket 75.

Visiting captain Ben Brown was also pinned lbw as he advanced at Hill’s seam amidst a bright start to the afternoon for Yorkshire at 111-4

Lehmann’s presence at number four was the beginning of Hampshire’s revival in tandem with teenager Ben Mayes, who contributed 39 to an 88-run partnership.

Lehmann, strong through the off-side off front and back foot, reached his 50 off 65 balls during their alliance.

However, Mayes and Liam Dawson departed shortlyafterwards – bowled by captain Dom Bess’s off-spin and caught behind off Ben Coad’s seam – to tip the balance back towards Yorkshire at 204-6.

Further success came quickly, with Hill to the fore. He struck twice in four balls in the 60th over, getting Codi Yusuf and Kyle Abbott lbw to leave the score at 222 for eight.

Left-handed Lehmann continued to stand firm as the majority of those struggled around him.

By tea, the 33-year-old had reached 70, but Coad then uprooted Eddie Jack’s off-stump before Hill’s sixth first-class five-for was completed when Lehmann holed out at deep mid-wicket to end the Hampshire innings.

But ball continued to dominate bat as South African new-ball pair Kyle Abbott and Cody Yusuf kept things very tight, the former rewarded when Fin Bean attempted to leave alone and lost his off-stump with the score on seven.

Then it was all about Baker’s burst, with the 23-year-old removing Whiteman, forcing Coad to play on three balls later and then yorking Wharton to finish the day with 3-16 from five overs.

Report by ECB Reporters’ Network, supported by Rothesay.