Berg Five-Fer Restricts Yorkshire On Day One

Gareth Berg’s (5-54) first Hampshire five-fer restricted Yorkshire to 262-9 after 85 overs on day one of their Specsavers County Championship clash at the The Ageas Bowl, which was cut short by bad light.

Hampshire's bowlers removed Yorkshire's dangermen before lunch, before Berg's inspired display enhanced a successful day with the ball for the home side, who will look to end a tenth wicket stand of 41 runs when they resume for day two.

Berg's first five-fer in County Championship Division One included an eight-ball spell in which the South African all-rounder took three wickets for two runs to reduce the visitors to 224-8.

Brad Wheal took Hampshire’s first wicket of the match in the 10^th over, removing key batsman Alex Lees for 10 and halting Yorkshire at 22-1, as Will Smith pocketed smartly in the slips.

Smith then took a fine, athletic catch at gully to remove Adam Lyth (24), who misguided a swinging delivery from Ryan McLaren six overs after his opening partner had been taken.

The visitors were restricted to 90-3 at lunch, after Gareth Berg deceived Gary Ballance in the 20^th over, with Lewis McManus leaping impressively to his left to send the England batsman walking.

The afternoon session was much more evenly contested as Berg and McLaren looked to prevent Yorkshire from transforming their morning’s work into a competitive total.

After McLaren removed the visiting skipper, Andrew Gale (26), Jake Lehmann’s fifty contribution was terminated by Berg, striking for a second time in the 43^rd over to dismiss the 24-year-old Australian, who had scored quickly to make 58 runs off 73 balls.

A fifty stand between Tim Bresnan and Andy Hodd took the visitors past 200 before tea, securing a batting point and a foothold in the game against a potent Hampshire bowling attack.

Berg produced an superb eight-ball spell of three wickets for two runs to put Hampshire back in the driving seat during the evening session – his first five-fer for the club unsettling the champions, who were left 224-8 when Azeem Rafiq (5) was caught behind by McManus.

Mason Crane’s deceiving spin and Tom Alsop’s sharp reactions at short leg brilliantly removed Steven Patterson for seven, as Hampshire further reduced the visitors to 234-9.

A 41-run stand from Jack Brooks and Ryan Sidebottom took Yorkshire to 275 -9 before bad light at 85 overs, and play failed to resume.