County Championship: Gary Ballance century gives Yorkshire victory chance against Hampshire

Gary Ballance averages more than 47 with the bat in first-class cricket

Gary Ballance's rapid 41st first-class century gave Yorkshire a chance of a final-day County Championship victory against Hampshire at The Ageas Bowl.

Ballance was on 101 off 86 balls when Yorkshire declared their second innings on 312-6, setting the hosts 393 to win.

After resuming on 34-1, Yorkshire's batsmen dominated against a depleted attack with George Hill (55) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (89) also finding form.

Hampshire closed on 26-2 with Ian Holland and Tom Alsop both out.

Yorkshire began day three with a lead of 114, but Hampshire's chances of keeping their second-innings target down to something manageable were severely dented by the loss of their two star fast bowlers.

Kyle Abbott and Brad Wheal were both unable to bowl, with Abbott requiring a scan on a foot injury, and Yorkshire capitalised.

Opener Hill had just reached his second half-century in first-class cricket when he drove loosely and edged Holland behind and Kohler-Cadmore looked set for his hundred when he was caught at long-on off Mason Crane having struck the spinner for two sixes in the over.

But after tea former England left-hander Ballance began to smash the ball to all parts, racing to his century off only 85 balls - an innings that included seven sixes.

Yorkshire declared with 21 overs remaining in the day and made an early breakthrough when Holland was superbly caught by a diving Harry Brook at slip off Ben Coad.

In the penultimate over Ballance rounded off his fine day by snaffling Alsop at silly mid-off to give England spinner Dom Bess a wicket.

Hampshire coach Adi Birrell:

"We were light on numbers on the bowling front and they got away from us. But we take positives from the way other teams have batted against us in the fourth innings this season. We have an uphill battle, but one we can survive.

"We look back this season when Gloucester came here and batted for a day and their last pair batted for 20 overs and then Surrey were three down with a day to bat and ended up eight down.

"Hashim Amla blocked the whole day. We need to do a bit of Hashim Amla batting. We did a bit of maths and we worked out that if everyone faces 72 balls we will bat out the day. so we are hopeful.

"The pitch is flatter and it does get slower as the game goes on and sides have been able to bat it out and we are hopeful we can do that."

Yorkshire's Gary Ballance:

"It is a nice place to bat but I can give a lot of credit to the guys batting above me. Hilly and Tom did all the hard work and put us in a great position. I came in and slogged a few and luckily a few came out of the middle and it was nice to get to a hundred in the end.

"We are not concerned about the prospect of the pitch flattening out. We saw that this evening there were a few balls that just bounced a bit more than usual so we know there is a bit in the pitch.

"But it is going to be hard work. We are going to have to put in a good shift and be consistent with our line and lengths. It helps we have a quality spinner in Bessy who can do a job at one end.

"It makes a difference getting two of their top three and the end there was pretty big for us."