Hill and Bess lead rearguard action but Yorkshire slip to first defeat

Kyle Abbott's seventh career haul of 10 wickets or more in a first-class match for Hampshire condemned Yorkshire to their first defeat of the Rothesay County Championship season at Headingley yesterday.

- by Harriet Sutton

Abbott had claimed four for 49 from 20 overs in the first innings and recorded a superb six for 21 from 17 in the second as Yorkshire, set 426 to win after tea on day three, fell a long way short at 211 all out.

All-rounder George Hill and captain Dom Bess posted consolatory scores of 52 and 49, but the hosts were well beaten by 214 runs. For Yorkshire, this performance came on the back of an unconvincing draw at Glamorgan.

Yorkshire started day four on 65 for five, needing 361 more. Realistically, their only hope of a positive result was a draw.

But they were pinned back further with the day's 12th ball as talismanic 38-year-old Abbott trapped Fin Bean lbw pushing forwards for 33 with the score at 71 for six.