Defiant Vince Hits Unbeaten Half Century

Hampshire captain James Vince hit a defiant unbeaten half-century in the midst of a strong Yorkshire performance on day two of the Specsavers County Championship match at Headingley.

Jonny Bairstow plundered a career-best 246 off 270 balls with 29 fours while Liam Plunkett hammered 126 from 102 deliveries as the champions reached 593-9 declared in their first innings – their highest score ever against Hampshire.

Two early wickets kept Hampshire on the back foot before Vince led from the front to hit an unbeaten 76 to leave Hants 141-5 at stumps, trailing by 452 runs.

Bairstow added 102 runs to his overnight 107 during the morning session and Plunkett was only four runs short of completing his century before lunch.

The pair scored virtually at will against a Hampshire attack which was missing Liam Dawson, off the field with a stomach bug, and it was further depleted when paceman, Chris Wood, hobbled off with a knee niggle while bowling his 19th over.

They tried nine bowlers in all and two of the wickets were picked up by young Thomas Alsop, his first in the first class arena. One felt sympathy for Fidel Edwards who finished without a wicket after conceding 145 runs, yet he had been Hampshire's best bowler on the first morning.

Bairstow and Plunkett departed in consecutive overs from Alsop and Will Smith and when the declaration came Yorkshire had overtaken their previous highest score against Hampshire of 585 for three at Portsmouth 96 years ago.

Although Hampshire lost a wicket in the third over of their reply, they did not crumble under pressure and Vince led by example.

Alsop soon fell lbw to Ryan Sidebottom and Michael Carberry and Vince took the score to 34 before Carberry drove too casually at Plunkett and was well caught by Alex Lees diving to his left at first slip.

Dawson had recovered sufficiently to bat and he began by straight driving Steve Patterson for four but Vince dominated the partnership by reeling of several boundaries, consecutive fours bringing him his 50 off 102 balls.

With the stand worth 59, however, Smith became Sidebottom's second lbw victim and Hampshire were struggling again on 125 for four, their crisis deepening in the next over when nightwatchman Tomlinson deflected a short ball from Plunkett to Jack Leaning at fourth slip.

Adil Rashid and Adam Lyth bowled the day's last five overs in fading light and Vince's unbeaten 76 came off 142 balls with 11 fours.