Benham bats out for routine draw

Clear blue skies and some disappointingly uncompetitive cricket marked the end of Yorkshire and Hampshire's LV= County Championship season, as their Division One match drifted to a predictable draw.

With both sides free from the threat of relegation and unable to agree on setting up a run chase, the game droned to a finish when Hampshire declared at 4.20pm on 284 for three with an overall lead of 287.

Hampshire set out on the final day on 41 without loss and Liam Dawson had still not added to his overnight 16 when he deflected a yorker from Ajmal Shahzad on to his toe end and there was a hold-up of several minutes while he received treatment.

The openers moved the total into three figures and Hampshire were 105 when the stand was broken by Deon Kruis, who had Dawson hooking a well-judged catch to Shahzad for 35.

It was a well-received dismissal for the Yorkshire fans because Kruis was playing his last day of first-class cricket for his adopted county after giving five seasons of outstanding service.

This was recognised during the lunch interval when he was presented with a watch by chief executive, Stewart Regan, and director of professional cricket, Martyn Moxon.

Before then, however, Hampshire lost Adams for 72 off 124 balls with 16 fours. He shouldered arms to left-arm spinner, David Wainwright, but misjudged the line and was bowled.

New batsman, Chris Benham, should have been run out before he had scored but Wainwright fumbled the return when the batsman scurried back to his crease after deciding against a single.

Hampshire began the afternoon on 145 for two and spectators basked in the warm sunshine as Lumb and Benham were quite happy to make leisurely progress against undemanding bowling.

Adam Lyth was given a rare opportunity to bring his occasional off-spin into play and after bowling 13 overs and conceding just 17 runs he took a short rest before returning briefly at the Kirkstall Lane end where Jacques Rudolph also put in an appearance with his gentle leg-breaks.

Benham’s half-century used up 113 balls and contained seven boundaries while Lumb cantered to his 50 from 158 balls with eight fours.

The new ball was taken immediately after tea at 248 for two and it was shared by Kruis and Lyth who was still bowling spin, Jonathan Bairstow taking over the wicketkeeper’s gloves from Gerard Brophy.

Lumb cut Lyth to the boundary to go to 60 at which stage he completed 1,000 first-class runs for the season but four runs later he looked aghast as he edged the same bowler to Brophy at slip to end a stand with Benham of 157 in 59 overs.

Lumb had shown no inclination to notch a century in such undemanding circumstances and Benham was also perfectly happy to meander to 67 not out off 161 balls with nine fours, the last over of the season being bowled by Brophy.