Yorkshire's unbeaten start under threat (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Yorkshire's unbeaten start under threat

8:57pm Thursday 17th May 2012 in Sport By Chris Parrott

Perhaps the best sight for Yorkshire supporters at Headingley today was Mitchell Starc warming up on the boundary edge.

After finally arriving from Australia after his visa issues, the fast bowler was put through his paces in an attempt to get him match-fit in time for Sunday’s CB40 encounter with Derbyshire.

Judging by the Tykes display in their match with Hampshire in the LV= County Championship so far, his debut can’t come quickly enough.

The visitors dominated day two to post 427 in their first-innings before Yorkshire struggled to 100-3 in reply on another rain-affected day.

The Tykes’ unbeaten start is in jeopardy and much of this is due to the contrast in bowling.

Hampshire were disciplined and dangerous from the off after their mammoth total, while Yorkshire have been the opposite so far this week.

Yet they did fare better with the ball today after 37 overs were lost to rain.

Resuming on 352-5, Hampshire were quickly bundled out inside the first 23 overs.

Spinner Adil Rashid did most of the damage with two wickets, with Andrew Gale running out Simon Katich for 196 and Steve Patterson and Iain Wardlaw also striking.

But the progress was undone when Yorkshire found themselves 32-3 in reply before a fourth-wicket rally at least gave them hope.

The final total was already a daunting one – and with overhead conditions far worse for the hosts to bat in than Hampshire had encountered, their attack turned the screw.

Just five balls into the Tykes innings, they were celebrating as Adam Lyth was out lbw for four, shouldering arms to Ali.

Joe Root followed soon after for eight to David Balcombe, with worse to come as captain Gale joined Phil Jaques in the middle.

After facing one ball, he was run out for nought thanks to an excellent piece of fielding from Michael Carberry at cover.

It left the Tykes struggling on 32-3 before Jaques and Gary Ballance made sure no more damage could be done.

Jaques reached the close on 59, with Ballance on 26 as the two added an unbroken 68 for the fourth wicket.

As Yorkshire are still 178 away from the follow on, they could hold the key to the Tykes hopes of salvaging something from this game.