ANDREW Gale and Jack Leaning shared a crucial 73 stand inside 27 overs for the fifth wicket to help Yorkshire to safety on day four of their Specsavers County Championship match against Hampshire at Headingley.
Having reduced Yorkshire to 43-4 before lunch in their second innings, the defending champions already leading by 140 on first innings, there was a glimmer of hope for the visitors that they may be able to chase victory later in the day.
Thankfully for Yorkshire, Gale hit 46 and Leaning 18 before both men fell late in the session with the lead already beyond 250 with a little over 40 overs left in the final day.
Gale was caught behind off Chris Wood before Leaning was bowled by Will Smith’s off-spinners.
Adil Rashid was later caught at a wide second slip off James Tomlinson, with Yorkshire reaching tea at 149-7 from 54 overs, a lead of 289 with 34 overs left.
Hampshire are without three injured bowlers in Fidel Edwards, Sean Ervine and Liam Dawson, having coach Dale Benkenstein and analyst Joe Maiden on as sub fielders.
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