STEVE Patterson felt Yorkshire tried everything with the ball during what he described as a “tough” second day against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.

Hampshire have the advantage at the halfway stage of this Specsavers County Championship match, although it is far from irretrievable for the White Rose.

Hampshire, replying to Yorkshire’s first-innings 350, reached close at 245-3.

Opener Jimmy Adams recorded 132 not out and Tom Alsop 62 not out, with the fourth-wicket pair sharing 177 to recover from 68-3 shortly after lunch.

“It’s been a tough day,” said the Yorkshire captain, who was the pick of the bowlers with 1-22 from 18 overs.

“You’re always a bit unsure how these pink ball games are going to go.

“We felt on the first night the way the clouds came in, it got darker a bit earlier and made it tougher to bat in that evening session. Consequently, we lost a few wickets and weren't in the position of strength we’d have liked.

“But we felt 350 from where we were was quite a good total. It was definitely something we could go out and attack with.

“We started well (with the ball). Brooksy got an early wicket. We came back after lunch and got a couple more quickly. They were 70 or 80 for three, and we were really positive and thought we could make real inroads.

“Then it just became difficult. The weather’s good, the pitch is as well, and the ball just got soft.

“You can’t shine them, it doesn't swing or really seam.

“But they played well to be fair.

“We felt we tried everything we could. We bowled a bit of spin, rotated the seamers to try and mix it up a bit.

“But, as I say, they played well and put us under a bit of pressure. It’s not ideal.

“In the evening when we took the new ball, it seemed to offer a lot more. Unfortunately we couldn't get the breakthrough we wanted, so we’ve got to come back today and work really hard to see if we can get two or three and get into the all-rounders and the bowlers to get them out for maybe level.

“It’s going to go one of two ways.

“If we start poorly, they're going to get level maybe four or five down. Then we’re really up against it.

“But if we come out and start strongly, they’re still 100 or so behind. If we get them five down quickly, there’s no reason why we can’t have them out level or maybe even slightly behind us.”