Kirby cameo a boost for Yorkshire

Hampshire 354 and 62-1 Yorkshire 423 Match drawn

A remarkable recovery helped the champions regain self-respect and gave Steve Kirby a day to remember. "Rip" spent the winter with the Australian Academy and after his career-best 57, at No 10, including two sixes, a colleague observed: "I don't know what they've done to his bowling but he's come back batting like Bill Woodfull".

Yorkshire re-started on this last day still 147 behind with five wickets standing and a second batting point seemed to be the limit of their ambitions. With nine added, Michael Lumb mis-timed his shot, leaving Richard Blakey and the tail to muddle through. Richard Dawson took the score to 247, Chris Silverwood's hitting stirred Blakey into retaliation and when Kirby arrived Yorkshire needed another 25 to reach 300.

Hampshire, seeing Kirby dropped behind, off Neil Johnson when on three, seemed to lose heart and direction as the clouds gradually lifted and the ninth-wicket partnership prospered to the extent of 91 runs in 32 overs. Even when Blakey was well taken at slip, 83 off 166 balls, Matthew Hoggard arrived to equal his previous best, 21, in a last wicket-stand of 57 that brought a welcome fifth point.

Hampshire then faced a possible 31 overs and, with a deficit of 69, perhaps embarrassment. Kirby was given the new ball ahead of Chris Silverwood and, all steamed up, won a decision against Will Kendall but Derek Kenway and John Crawley soon persuaded Darren Lehmann to save his quick bowlers for another day.

Twelve points is hardly a cause for celebration but after Yorkshire's sorry start they might just represent a turning point. Hampshire's bowling looked too thin for comfort.