Brilliant Berg Steals The Show As Hampshire Put Yorkshire To The Sword On Day Two

Gareth Berg recorded a superb 99* before then taking 4-32 with the ball as Hampshire put Yorkshire to the sword on day two of their Specsavers County Championship match at the The Ageas Bowl.

After Hampshire lost a flurry of wickets early, Berg helped steady the innings, sharing valuable lower-order stands with both Reece Topley (16 from 67 balls) and Brad Wheal (13 from 68 balls) to take Hampshire to 455 in their first-innings.

The all-rounder then took three wickets for just 11 runs in his opening six over spell, including the scalp of England captain Joe Root, before then returning to take another as the Hampshire bowling unit battled brilliantly to reduce Yorkshire to 128-6 at stumps.

Hampshire began day two with hopes of putting a big first-innings total on the board, but three wickets soon fell for two runs against a swinging ball early in the opening session, including that of James Vince (147) who fell for an excellent century.

Lewis McManus (1) was caught down the leg-side off the bowling of David Willey, whilst the left-armer then managed to strike Liam Dawson (24) in front who also departed shortly after.

Kyle Abbott (22) and Berg led the Hampshire recovery however, the duo sharing a 44-run stand before the former was run-out just before lunch.

Berg continued to impress into the afternoon session, coming together nicely with Topley who recorded his highest first-class score. 

The pair put on a 41-run stand before Topley departed, however Berg persevered and posted a 68-run partnership with Wheal to frustrate the visitors.

The hard-hitting right-hander cleared the rope twice in the innings and found the boundary regulary but when Wheal fell on 13, the innings concluded and Berg was left stranded just one run shy of what would have been a deserved hundred.

Berg was quick to make an impact upon returning to the field however, this time with the ball as Lees (0) departed with just the fourth ball of Berg's opening over.

It didn't take long for the seamer to grab his second and third of the day either, Lyth (8) chopping on before England captain Joe Root (8) poked at a delivery to edge behind to Lewis McManus, leaving Yorkshire 19-3.

The trouble continued for the visitors as the impressive Abbott (1-14) was finally rewarded with a wicket, Peter Handscomb (1) the man to go this time after being trapped LBW.

Topley (0-33) and Wheal (1-32) were then introduced into the attack - the former bowling for the first time for Hampshire in a first-class fixture - and provided an early test for the new batsmen.

Wheal soon picked up his 10th wicket of the season and it was the prized scalp of England's Jonny Bairstow with the right-hander pinned in front and dismissed LBW.

Gary Ballance (63*) led the Yorkshire fightback and reached his half-century late in the evening session, but with the total at 94-5 Hampshire ensured they regained the momentum before the close - Tim Bresnan (21) the man to depart after feathering behind to McManus.