YORKSHIRE in the end could only manage a Championship draw against Hampshire at North Marine Road but nobody could accuse them of not trying to make a game of it when the chips were down.

With Ryan Sidebottom having sprained his ankle when stumbling on the boundary rope in the morning warm-up, Yorkshire knew they would be a front line bowler light when it came to trying to bowl their opponents out.

But they still took the game to Hampshire by setting them a very reasonable 307 target in what became 70 overs and they fought every inch of the way until accepting the stalemate in the final over with Hampshire on 180 for six.

It took an 80-minute rearguard action between James Hamblin and Shaun Udal, who added an unbeaten 69 together, to defy Yorkshire and keep them in fifth place in the Second Division table.

Sidebottom's absence was felt but Vic Craven proved to be a worthy stand-in with his swinging medium pacers and he doubled his previous tally of two Championship wickets by claiming the prize scalps of Simon Katich and John Crawley before either of Hampshire's two class batsmen could inflict any damage.

Replacing Steve Kirby at 30 for one after seven overs, Craven's first ball curved in to Katich who shouldered arms and was surprised to see his off-stump flattened, the Australian left-hander's departure being a great boost to Yorkshire after his 143 not out in the first innings.

Then, at 83 for two, Craven returned for another spell and in his first over Crawley aimed a shot through mid-wicket but got a leading edge which floated to Matthew Wood at cover.

Hampshire now had no higher ambition than to hold out for a draw but they continued to be severely tested, particularly by off-spinner Andy Gray who bowled beautifully and at one stage had figures of three wickets for one run in 22 deliveries.

Simon Guy failed to hold one difficult catch behind the stumps off Gray and Stephen Fleming dropped a fierce cut by Udal at slip but by then it was too late to make any difference to the result.

Resuming in the morning on 23 without loss, Yorkshire went hell for leather in a positive attempt to make up for the previous day's washout and when they declared a few minutes before the scheduled lunch at 211 for four they had added 188 in a mere 112 minutes.

Michael Lumb led the way with a fiery 59 off 60 balls with five fours and two sixes and Fleming smacked 53 off 67 deliveries with ten boundaries while Wood and Craven also made significant contributions.