Rashid rampant as Tykes take charge (From Asian Image)

Rashid rampant as Tykes take charge

4:31pm Thursday 13th August 2009 in Sport By Graham Hardcastle

Bradford leg-spinner Adil Rashid helped bat Yorkshire into a stellar position during the third afternoon of their County Championship match against Hampshire at Basingstoke.

Rashid, 21, hit a career-best unbeaten 117 to fire the Tykes to a mammoth first-innings total of 524 in reply to the home side’s 250.

Yorkshire, who lead by 274, begin their second effort with the ball after tea.

Rashid shared a ground record of 192 for the eighth wicket with Ajmal Shahzad, who also recorded a career best tally of 78 off 159 balls.

They began their partnership late on day two and it was only broken midway through the afternoon session today when Shahzad cracked Chris Tremlett to a diving Jimmy Adams at cover.

Rashid faced 190 balls, hitting 14 fours and one six, to notch his third first-class ton.

Deon Kruis battered a late 26 off 23 balls, including four fours and a six, before he was trapped lbw by Imran Tahir.

Tremlett also had Matthew Hoggard (14) caught at mid-off by Dimitri Mascarenhas.

Hampshire, who dropped four catches in the first two sessions, have been woeful, with captain Mascarenhas having a shocker.

Only he knows why left-arm spinner Liam Dawson did not get a bowl in 165 overs.