County Championship: Yorkshire win deepens Hampshire plight

Andrew Gale's century was his third in the County Championship this summer

Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale hit a match-winning century as relegation-threatened Hampshire's gamble to force a victory backfired at Southampton.

Hampshire forfeited their second innings after the newly crowned champions agreed to declare on 97-4.

It left Yorkshire with a target of 304 and they were soon in trouble on 37-3.

But Jack Leaning (76) helped Gale add 190 and the latter went on to make 125, with 16 boundaries, as they reached 305-5 to win by five wickets.

Yorkshire's win took the Tykes to 265 points - a Championship record since the introduction of two divisions.

But their agreement to a contrived finish could have led to controversy had the result gone the other way.

With Sussex and Somerset having drawn their game, Hampshire will need to beat Nottinghamshire next week and hope one of their rivals loses to have a chance of remaining in the top flight next summer.

The home side made the start they wanted with the new ball as Fidel Edwards bowled Alex Lees in the fifth over and Adam Lyth was run out by Jimmy Adams' direct hit, before Gareth Berg had Gary Ballance (17) caught behind.

Leaning, however, kept his captain company for 61 overs as Yorkshire turned the game in their favour and although both fell to Edwards, Tim Bresnan (35 not out) and Andrew Hodd saw the visitors to their 10th win of the summer with 28 balls to spare.

Hampshire director of cricket Giles White:

"In hindsight, you look back and wonder if it was the right decision, but I think it was. It was something as a group we decided and it was a calculated risk.

"The position we are in the table we had to give it a go, and it started so well at 37-3. It felt like it was going to be our day. But credit to Yorkshire. Leaning and Gale played magnificently well.

"From a Hampshire perspective the boys gave everything and we couldn't ask for any more from them. We're not dead and buried but we'd like it to be in our hands."

Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale:

"I was disappointed not to see it through as I got the lion's share of the runs. I've felt in good form and was disappointed not to get a hundred last week and I nearly gave it away again.

"Fair play to Hampshire for setting the game up. We held all the cards at the start of the day but we still needed to get 300. Since we won the Championship we have played some poor cricket so we needed one or two guys to stand up, and that is what me and Jack Leaning did.

"I was pleased for Jack today as he has been in a rough trot and was left out. Hopefully he can get another score next week and finish off a fantastic year for him.