Dom Bess says Yorkshire are positive about their chances of turning around a 54-run deficit on first innings to claim victory over Hampshire at Emerald Headingley.
A hard-fought second day saw the visitors, replying to 181 and starting the day on 14-1, post 235 late on.
Yorkshire then closed a day which had 34 overs wiped off because of afternoon rain on 5-0 in their second innings.
Ben Coad led the way with four wickets, while Duanne Olivier and David Willey finished with two apiece.
Steve Patterson and on-loan Somerset off-spinner Bess (1-37 from 11) also chipped in with one each.
Bess said: “I think it was a really good day for us.
“At one point, they were 80-2 and then we got Rahane. So to drag it back with wickets in clusters, I think we’d have taken a deficit of 50 after being bowled out for 181.
“Coady picked up the last couple and finished with four-for. Patto bowled well again, being boring and bowling maidens, letting the pitch do a bit.
“It’s fascinating how quickly the conditions change here. One minute I’m bowling and feeling good, then the next thing it’s better for the seamers to be on.
“To have these sort of seamers in our attack, it’s great, and we use them when we can.
“Even Dave Willey came in and picked up two really crucial wickets even though he was the most expensive. Everyone chipped in.”
After close, Hampshire coach Adrian Birrell spoke of how his side wouldn’t really want Yorkshire to set a target north of 200 – he thinks 250 is par on this pitch.
“We’d be confident defending 200, but we want more,” said Bess, who is playing only his second first-class game of the season having arrived from Taunton on a four-game loan.
“It’s coming out really nicely for me at the moment. I think I’ve been consistent.”
Bess’ only wicket was a crucial one, that of Indian Ajinkya Rahane stumped as he danced down the track at the offie. That left Hampshire 80-3, which soon became 93-4.
Rahane’s approach, given the situation of the match, was a surprise. But not to Bess.
He added: “I was very happy to get that wicket. He’s a crucial player for them. I felt like it was the start of things we did very well. We picked up wickets when we needed to.
“A little bit, yeah (expecting Rahane to be aggressive against him). I’ve played against him a couple of times and know what he’s capable of.
“I actually dismissed him last year in a pretty similar way (for the Lions against India A), so I had that in the back of my head.”
