SIX-WICKET: star Ben Coad is hopeful a victory target of 320 will prove too steep for Hampshire’s batsmen as Yorkshire look to wrap up an opening round Specsavers County Championship win at Headingley.

A three-day finish looks to be on the cards after 15 wickets fell on each of the first two days.

Hampshire, replying to 273, slipped from 58-5 to 141 all out in their first innings just after lunch on day two, with Coad finishing with a brilliant 6-37, five of which came after tea on day one.

Yorkshire then failed to put Hampshire to bed with a strong second-innings performance as they were bowled out for 187, leaving the visitors with four overs to bat before stumps. They reached 10-0.

Coad and Tim Bresnan shared all 10 Hampshire wickets before ex-South Africa seamer Kyle Abbott claimed a superb 7-41 from 14 overs for the visitors.

And Coad is confident the bowlers will continue to prosper on day three."We're fairly happy,” said the 23-year-old from Harrogate.

“We could have done with getting a few more runs today, but we've put ourselves in a good position for tomorrow, and hopefully we can get over the line.

”The pitch is still doing a bit. It's up and down now as well, so it's bowler-friendly "350-400 would have been ideal, but 320's enough, hopefully.”

Coad picked up the first wicket to fall on day two, Abbott caught at third slip off inside edge and pad, before Bresnan took the last four either side of lunch as Hampshire narrowly avoided the 124 follow-on target. This is only Coad’s second Championship match.

"I'm very happy with my own performance, but it's just a good start, and there's still a lot to do,” he said.

"I felt like I probably bowled better against Leeds/Bradford (University game last weekend), but I was just unfortunate in not getting the edges and a couple of decisions.

“Here, it was just doing enough, so it was getting those edges and the lbws."

If victorious, Yorkshire will look back on crucial second-innings fifties for Gary Ballance (55) and Andrew Hodd (54 not out).

Hodd’s first 24 runs all came in boundaries before he lofted England limited overs spinner Liam Dawson for a straight six in his 53-ball knock.

"Gaz batted unbelievably well, and Hoddy at the end counter-attacked and played like he does. They were outstanding,” added Coad.