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Yankees catcher Austin Wells made one of the most embarrassing mistakes of the MLB season Wednesday night when he lost track of the number of outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and got tagged out on a weird play that left the announcers stunned and had Yankees fans on social media going nuts.

Making things even worse for Wells was that his gaffe happened in a tie game in the middle of a heated playoff race. The Yankees would go on to get a 5-4 win in extra innings, but his mistake can't be overlooked.

This all happened after New York's Trent Grisham laid down a bunt and got thrown out at first. Wells was able to get to second base but then wandered off the bag thinking the inning was over. He then got tagged out and heard a chorus of boos as he slowly made his way back to the dugout.

Wells was asked after the game if the Rays baited in him to thinking there were three outs. He denied that and instead put all of the blame on himself, saying: “I think I just was being an idiot.”

Here are his full comments on the moment:

Here's the play:

Wells is lucky the Yankees were still able to get a win because he never would have heard the end of that in New York if they hadn't.

أعلنت اللجنة المنظمة لجوائز جلوب سوكر لعام 2025 عن القائمة النهائية للمرشحين للفوز بجائزة أفضل لاعب في الشرق الأوسط، في نسخة تعد من أبرز نسخ الجوائز التي تسلط الضوء على اللاعبين الأكثر تأثيرًا في المنطقة.

ومن المقرر أن تُقام مراسم حفل توزيع الجوائز يوم الأحد الموافق 28 ديسمبر في فندق “أتلانتس ذا رويال” بمدينة دبي الإماراتية، حيث ستتضمن الفعالية حضور كبار الشخصيات الرياضية والإعلامية في الشرق الأوسط، إلى جانب نجوم كرة القدم البارزين.

واستمر تصويت الجماهير على اللاعبين المرشحين حتى 27 نوفمبر الماضي، ما يمنح عشاق اللعبة فرصة المشاركة في اختيار الفائز من خلال تصويتهم، وهو ما يجعل الجائزة أكثر تفاعلية ومصداقية في تحديد اللاعب الأكثر تأثيرًا على المستويين الفردي والجماعي.

طالع أيضًا | القائمة النهائية للمرشحين لجائزة أفضل لاعب في العالم من جلوب سوكر.. موقف محمد صلاح

وتشهد نسخة هذا العام تصدر النجم البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو، قائد فريق النصر، قائمة المرشحين، بعد موسم مميز مع الفريق السعودي على الصعيد المحلي والقاري، ويُشاركه 3 لاعبين آخرين من الدوري السعودي. المرشحين لجائزة أفضل لاعب في الشرق الأوسط من جلوب سوكر 2025

كريستيانو رونالدو – النصر السعودي

كريم بنزيما – الاتحاد السعودي

سالم الدوسري – الهلال السعودي

رياض محرز – الأهلي السعودي

الجدير بالذكر، أنه قد خرج من القائمة الأولية كل من ثنائي الأهلي السعودي روبيرتو فيرمينو وإيفان توني، إلى جانب نجم اتحاد جدة نجولو كانتي.

Glasgow Rangers made it four wins from four matches in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday when they beat Livingston 2-1 at Ibrox, thanks to goals from Emmanuel Fernandez and Mohamed Diomande.

Danny Rohl, who has now won all of his league games in charge of the club so far, was not entirely pleased with his team’s performance in the narrow win against Livi, though, as evidenced by his post-game comments below.

The former Sheffield Wednesday head coach wants to see improvement from his players in the weeks and months to come, as the Light Blues look to ensure that they can make something successful out of this campaign.

Rangers are already nine points adrift of first place in the Premiership, per Sofascore, but they are still in the Europa League and have the SFA Cup to play for in the second half of the season.

As Rohl said after Saturday’s game, the Light Blues simply need to improve their performances if they want to be in contention to win things by the business end of the season.

That means that individuals need to step up and become reliable performers, as too many of them have been inconsistent at best. One of those inconsistent players has been summer signing Djeidi Gassama.

Why Rangers should be concerned by Djeidi Gassama's form

After a return of four goals in six Champions League qualifiers, per Transfermarkt, the French forward looked like he was a steal of a signing at £2.2m from Sheffield Wednesday.

He was a shining light in those European matches during Russell Martin’s dismal tenure, and even added a goal in the league phase of the Europa League against Sturm Graz in a 2-1 defeat in the manager’s penultimate game in charge.

Unfortunately, though, Gassama has been unable to deliver consistent quality at the top end of the pitch in his time in the Premiership so far, with one goal and one assist in 12 appearances in the division, per Sofascore.

After his stunning start to life at Ibrox in the early European games, there may have been some hope that he could kick on to become the club’s new Ryan Kent, who produced 33 goals and 56 assists in 218 outings for the Light Blues, per Transfermarkt.

25/26 Premiership	Djeidi Gassama
Appearances	12
Starts	11
Goals	1
Minutes per goal	972
Conversion rate	4%
Big chances created	0
Key passes per game	0.8
Assists	1
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Gassama has not provided a Kent-esque presence on the left flank for the Scottish giants in the Premiership this season, with two goal contributions in 12 matches.

His inconsistency, as evidenced by his contrasting form domestically and in Europe, should be a concern for Rangers, given that he is starting almost every league game yet failing to deliver quality on a consistent basis.

This is why Rohl may need to look at alternative options in the left wing position in the coming weeks, as the Gers may need a new starter in that role if Gassama is unable to add more consistency to his domestic displays.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The Daily Record recently noted that Wales international Rabbi Matondo has returned to training after a lengthy injury lay-off that had seen him unavailable for the entirety of Martin’s tenure, and speculated that he could be in for a chance under Rohl.

Why Rangers should give Rabbi Matondo a chance to shine

It would be completely understandable if any Rangers supporters were not too enthused by the prospect of the Welsh forward returning to the team to get another chance, given that he has played zero minutes this season and spent the second half of last season on loan at Hannover.

However, if he is now back in training and is fit and available for selection, the German head coach should provide him with a chance to shine, because it has been his availability rather than his ability that has been an issue throughout his career in Scotland.

Per Transfermarkt, Matondo missed 20 games in his first season at Ibrox through injury, then 19 in his second, and 23 for Rangers and Hannover combined in the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that he simply has not been available enough in recent years.

When fit, though, the former Manchester City youngster has shown that he has the quality to be a difference-maker on the left flank, with eight goals and 11 assists in 64 appearances, per Transfermarkt, for Rangers.

Matondo, who was once lauded as “electrifying” by former manager Ryan Giggs, has averaged a goal or an assist for the Gers every 139 minutes on average, per Transfermarkt, which is an incredibly impressive return.

Stats	Kent	Gassama	Matondo
Appearances	218	24	67
Minutes	17,732	1,823	2,641
Goals	33	6	8
Minutes per goal	537	303	330
Assists	56	2	11
Minutes per assist	317	911	240
Minutes per goal contribution	199	228	139
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Gassama and Kent have both failed to deliver goals and assists as frequently as the Wales international in their respective Rangers careers.

One area in which Gassama particularly struggles is the creative side of the game, as evidenced by his return of an assist every 911 minutes, whilst Matondo has assisted goals even more regularly than Kent did.

This does not mean that the Welsh whiz will automatically become a star if he stays fit and plays week-in-week-out for Rohl, because he has not played a single minute this season and could need time to settle back in to playing competitive football.

However, his statistics for Rangers throughout his career suggest that he has the potential to be Rohl’s own version of Kent as a lightning-quick winger who can provide a threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals, which is something Gassama has failed to do so far.

Fewer touches than Butland: Rohl must bin "missing" Rangers flop after Livi

Rangers did claim another league win over Livingston on Saturday, but one player went “missing” at Ibrox, registering fewer touches than Jack Butland.

By
Ben Gray

Nov 23, 2025

Watching Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-1 defeat to their bitter rivals in the Premier League on Sunday made it clear where Thomas Frank’s priorities need to be moving forward.

Whilst you could look at that loss and suggest that they need to improve defensively, which would be a fair comment after they conceded four goals, it is in possession where they really need to improve.

xG

11.0

17th

Non-penalty xG

11.0

16th

Progressive passes

413

12th

Shots

110

19th

Shots on target

40

15th

Average shot distance

15.6 yards

17th

As you can see in the table above, Spurs are one of the worst teams in the Premier League at progressing play with passes, creating shooting opportunities, and creating high-quality chances.

The Lilywhites ended the match against Arsenal with three shots on goal and 0.07 xG, per Sofascore, with their goal coming from Richarlison’s stunning long-range lob over David Raya.

Tottenham’s struggles at the top end of the pitch explain why the club are reportedly considering a move to sign Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo.

The Ghana international has a £65m release clause that can be activated at the start of the January transfer window, and Spurs are one of the teams vying for his signature.

How Antoine Semenyo could solve Tottenham's attacking problems

Whilst a lot of Tottenham’s problems could come down to coaching issues, with how players are asked to play, the team selections, and the patterns that are or are not coached in training, having a top talent in the final third can make up for some coaching problems.

Semenyo is the kind of forward who can create things for himself with his incredible speed, power, ball control, and ability in front of goal when he gets near the opposition’s box.

The former Bristol City striker’s goal against Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season is the perfect example of the kind of quality that he could bring to North London in the second half of the campaign.

With Tottenham’s lack of progressive passing and high-quality chances this season, having a player who has runs and goals like that in his locker would be invaluable for Frank.

That strike against Liverpool was also not a flash in the pan for the versatile attacker, who can play out wide or through the middle, because he has been in impressive form in the Premier League this term.

xG

4.58

Top 1%

Goals

6

Top 1%

Shots

23

Top 10%

Shots on target

14

Top 1%

Assists

3

Top 6%

Successful dribbles

21

Top 5%

Touches in the opposition’s box

45

Top 12%

As you can see in the table above, Semenyo has been one of the most productive wingers in the division for Bournemouth this season, with more goals than any other winger in the league.

These statistics, and the nature of his goal against Liverpool in particular, suggest that signing the Cherries star would go a long way to solving some of the attacking issues that Frank’s side have.

Therefore, Spurs should push hard to win the race for his services by activating his release clause at the start of the January transfer window and trying their hardest to convince him that a move to North London is the best next step in his career.

£65m, though, would make him the club’s joint-record signing alongside Dominic Solanke, who also came from Bournemouth, so it would take a big financial commitment from the Lilywhites.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

In order to make a move for the 25-year-old star viable, sporting director Fabio Paratici should look to ruthlessly sell some of the club’s current players to fund a transfer for Semenyo.

One of the sellable assets who should be cashed in on by Paratici to create funds for a swoop for the Cherries sensation in January is right-back Pedro Porro.

Why Spurs should sell Pedro Porro

Ahead of the summer transfer window, CaughtOffside reported that the Spain international was attracting interest from Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.

It was claimed that Spurs were not interested in selling the full-back at the time, which was in May, but that they would have changed their tune if an offer of around £57m came across their desk.

Whilst Porro ultimately remained in North London, that report in the summer shows that there are some top clubs across Europe who would be interested in him if he became available, although it remains to be seen if any of them would pay the £57m price tag.

The Spaniard attracted interest from those teams after a return of four goals and nine assists in 51 appearances in all competitions for Spurs in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, but his form this season has left a lot to be desired.

Polish journalist Michał Okoński described his crosses into the box as a “disaster” earlier this month, and it is hard to disagree with that assessment when you consider that he has lost possession 222 times and delivered one assist in 12 Premier League games, per Sofascore.

Appearances

33

12

Possession lost per game

17.5

18.5

Key passes per game

1.7

1.2

Big chances created

10

2

Assists

6

1

Pass accuracy

76%

73%

Cross accuracy

31%

17%

As you can see in the table above, the Spain international’s use of the ball has regressed since the end of the 2024/25 campaign. He is currently giving the ball away more frequently whilst creating less for his team.

Porro has been far too wasteful with the ball at his feet at right-back for Tottenham. That is evident in his regressing creative stats, but it is also evident in that he has made four errors leading to shots for the opposition in the Premier League, twice as many as he made in 33 matches last season.

As well as his struggles on the ball, the former Sporting star has gone from averaging 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game last season in the Premier League to averaging just 1.7 per match in the current campaign, per Sofascore.

These statistics show that Porro has regressed in and out of possession at right-back for the Lilywhites, which is why it could be the right time for Paratici to cash in on him in January, amid interest from City, Barcelona, and Bayern, to avoid his value dwindling if his form does not improve.

Fewer touches than Vicario: Frank must drop 3/10 Spurs dud after Arsenal

Thomas Frank has numerous glaring errors he needs to address at Tottenham Hotspur after the Arsenal defeat.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 24, 2025

Whilst it remains to be seen how much teams would be willing to pay for him, any fee in the region of the quoted £57m would go a long way to funding a deal for Semenyo, who has a £65m release clause.

ESPN and MLB mutually decided to part ways at the conclusion of the 2025 season, which will conclude the latest media right contract between the two sides. In a letter to the league's owners obtained by , MLB commissioner Rob Manfred laid out the league's reasons to end the partnership.

According to Manfred, ESPN had approached the MLB to reduce the $550 million it spends annually on the deal, citing the $85 million that Apple and $10 million that Roku pay for their packages. ESPN's family of networks has broadcast the primetime since 1990. Manfred cited 2024's improved ratings, up 6% from the prior year he said, as reason against reducing the fee.

Manfred also cited ESPN's dwindling number of subscribers, and a lack of baseball coverage on the network's shows outside of games.

"Furthermore, we have not been pleased with the minimal coverage that MLB has received on ESPN’s platforms over the past several years outside of the actual live game coverage," Manfred wrote.

The commissioner says that ESPN is still interested in striking a new MLB deal, especially as it prepares to launch its own direct-to-consumer platform.

While the situation continues to evolve, as of now ESPN's 35-year partnership with MLB is set to come to a close at the end of the coming season.

A new report has shared how Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis now feels about his decision to sack Nuno Espírito Santo, with the Greek billionaire also said to be considering a surprise replacement for Ange Postecoglou.

Ange Postecoglou under serious Nottingham Forest pressure

A run of zero wins from his opening seven matches in charge at the City Ground, which includes five defeats, has plunged Postecoglou’s long-term Forest future into serious doubt.

Arsenal 3-0 Forest

Premier League

Swansea 3-2 Forest

Carabao Cup

Burnley 1-1 Forest

Premier League

Real Betis 2-2 Forest

Europa League

Forest 0-1 Sunderland

Premier League

Forest 2-3 FC Midtjylland

Europa League

Newcastle 2-0 Forest

Premier League

While Forest are yet to pull the plug on the Australian, despite credible media sources suggesting he could be sacked if Forest lose to Newcastle, Marinakis is not afraid to make a ruthless decision and call time on Postecoglou’s short reign if results continue in this manner (Sky Sports).

The former Tottenham boss, if he’s handed his P45 in the coming days, could become the shortest reigning Premier League manager in history.

Postecoglou already has an unwanted record, having made the worst start of any new Forest boss for 100 years, but the 60-year-old sent a defiant message about his struggles to make a good start at the City Ground.

In terms of who could replace Postecoglou if Marinakis decides to call time, it is believed that Oliver Glasner could emerge as a top candidate for the Forest job, and they have a long-standing interest in Fulham’s Marco Silva (The Mail).

The tacticians are both doing excellent jobs at their respective clubs with limited resources, so it’s hardly a surprise to see them mentioned, but it is now rumoured that Marinakis has another “shock” candidate in mind.

Nottingham Forest internally discuss Graham Potter as a replacement for Ange

That is according to TEAMtalk, who claim that former West Ham boss Graham Potter, who was sacked by the Hammers over a fortnight ago, is being considered.

The Englishman recorded the second-worst win percentage of any West Ham manager in Premier League history, behind only Avram Grant, who relegated the Hammers in 2011, yet his name has apparently come up behind-the-scenes.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12 Graham Potter

26.1%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

TT claim that Forest are internally discussing the possibility of appointing Potter, and Marinakis feels personally accountable for the club’s current situation after his bold move to axe Nuno.

The chief is said to be furious over Forest’s form and the state of affairs right now, with Marinakis “on the verge” of sacking Postecoglou.

Hiring Potter would be a very controversial move, to say the least, following his torrid time at the London Stadium.

Even if West Ham players were fans of the tactician and gave him their full backing (The Telegraph), it would arguably be yet another backwards step for the Tricky Trees.

Elsewhere, Marinakis was spotted in close proximity to Rafael Benitez last week, who’s keen on returning to England, and the Spaniard could be a much better option than Potter.

The option that stands out among all the rest, though, is Glasner.

That being said, even though his contract expires in 2026, it could be very difficult to convince the Austrian to move there mid-season amid Forest’s current predicament.

حدد المدرب الأرجنتيني ماوريسيو بوتشيتينو موقفه من العودة للتدريب في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بعد أن سبق له وقام بتدريب العديد من الأندية.

ويتولى مدرب توتنهام وتشيلسي وساوثهامبتون السابق حالياً تدريب منتخب الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية ويستعد لقيادته في كأس العالم على أرضه في 2026.

وقد أوضح بوتشيتينو أنه يطمح للعودة للتدريب في الدوري الإنجليزي الذي تركه في عام 2024 بعد مغادرته ملعب ستامفورد بريدج.

أقرأ أيضاً.. أموريم يرد على تصريحات كريستيانو رونالدو: نسينا الماضي ونركز على المستقبل

وذكر المدرب الأرجنتيني في تصريحات لـ “بي بي سي سبورت”: “بالطبع أفتقد الدوري الانجليزي، أنا سعيد للغاية في امريكا”.

وأضاف: “لكنني أفكر في العودة يوماً ما إلى الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، إنه الدوري الأكثر تنافسية”.

وكان بوتشيتينو قد قاد توتنهام للمركز الثاني في الدوري الإنجليزي والصعود لنهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا وكأس الرابطة، ويتشوق لفرصة أخرى للفوز ببعض الألقاب التي كانت صعبة أمام السبيرز.

واختتم المدرب الأرجنتيني: “أعتقد أننا كنا قريبين جداً في توتنهام للفوز بالبريميرليج ودوري أبطال أوروبا وكدنا نحقق ذلك، هذا شيء أرغب في تحقيقه”.

Rain is forecast for the lead up to the start of play and there could be intermittent showers thereafter too

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jun-2025

Jasprit Bumrah will be hoping for the sky to be his ally•Getty Images

Weather could have a say in what has shaped up as a blockbuster finish to the Headingley Test between England and India. The early-morning forecast for Leeds is of showers in the lead up to 11am local time (3.30pm IST) start and intermittent showers through the day thereafter, which, if it does come true, could mean a stop-start flow to the day.The game is tantalisingly poised after the two teams finished on an even keel after the first-innings exchanges, India first scoring 471 and England replying with 465, just six runs between them. India have since scored 364 in their second innings, leaving England a target of 371, of which they have shaved off 21 with a day to go. And 350 runs don’t seem too many in 90 overs for a team known to score quickly, come rain or shine.”[We will] just go for the win. That’s the clear message in the changing room,” Josh Tongue, who cleaned up India’s tail in the second innings for figures of 3 for 72, said after the fourth day. “It’s just [about] being as positive as we can. They’re going to bowl well at times tomorrow. It’s just crucial we soak up that bit of pressure and reapply it. I don’t see why we can’t chase that down.”All of which, in what promises to be overcast conditions at Headingley, will likely bring Jasprit Bumrah & Co into play in a big way.”There’s definitely going to be a result,” KL Rahul, century-maker in India’s second innings, said. “That’s what England have said very openly, and their style of cricket suggests that as well. It gives us a good opportunity to pick up ten wickets. We know how they’re going to come out and bat on day five.”The wicket today was a very tricky wicket: I spent a lot of time batting there and I didn’t feel set at all at any given stage. The wicket’s taken a beating, and tomorrow might break even more… We know their style of cricket, so [we’ll] try to keep that in the back of our heads and try to see what lines and lengths we can bowl and how we can get them out.”

Former Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann has urged the Bundesliga champions to reconsider a reported early contract extension for Harry Kane, labelling the idea "madness" despite the star striker's incredible form. The club legend warned that Kane's age and defensive workload pose a risk, and he fears Bayern could suffer a mid-season collapse.

• Hamann slams timing of proposed new contract

  Despite the England captain's phenomenal goalscoring form, Hamann believes offering a new deal to the 32-year-old would be a serious misstep, citing concerns over his age and long-term impact.

  He strongly advised against the club's apparent plan to extend Kane's contract, which is not due to expire until June 2027. Hamann was unequivocal in his assessment of the situation, questioning the logic of renegotiating with more than a year and a half still remaining on the current agreement.

  "That would be madness. He'll be 34 when the contract expires," Hamann said on . "You can't extend a contract that still has 20 months to run. It would be madness." 

  The former Liverpool player also cast doubt on Kane's ability to consistently deliver against the very best opposition. "At the European Championship, England won their games when Kane came off," he said. "Whether he scores against the best teams like Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal remains to be seen."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Concerns raised over Kane's defensive workload

  Kane's incredible start to life in Bavaria has been built on more than just goals. His all-round contribution and work rate have been widely praised, particularly his defensive efforts in the crucial 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. However, Hamann sees this as a potential negative, warning that it could detract from the striker's primary role.

  "It shouldn't become common practice for Kane to slide tackle 20 meters from his own goal," the 52-year-old warned. "The first thing that could suffer is that he stops scoring goals." This concern comes despite Kane opening the scoring in the 22nd minute of that very match, a result which sent Bayern seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

• Bayern's perfect start not enough to convince Hamann

  While Vincent Kompany's side have enjoyed a flawless start to the season, winning all eleven of their competitive matches, Hamann remains cautious. He pointed to last season's dip in form after a strong start as a reason to temper expectations and warned that the team's high-energy style may not be sustainable with a small squad.

  "They're still the team that runs the most in the Bundesliga. That has little to do with efficiency," said Hamann. "We'll see whether they can keep it up with the small squad they have… The awards will be handed out in April and May. They played good football last fall as well, but after that, it became less and less. That's why I'm cautious with superlatives." He even claimed that Bayern were "standing knocked out" during the final 25 minutes against Dortmund.

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• Kane the best?

  Kane’s career statistics highlight his status as one of the most prolific strikers of his generation. The vast majority of his career was spent at Tottenham, where he became the club's all-time top scorer with 280 goals in 435 appearances, 213 of which came in the Premier League. Since transferring to Bayern Munich in 2023, Kane has maintained a phenomenal strike rate, netting 104 goals in just 107 games. His dominance in Germany includes 74 goals in 70 Bundesliga matches. In the Champions League, he holds a combined 44 goals across 59 appearances for both clubs. For England, Kane is his nation's all-time top scorer, finding the net 76 times in 110 caps.

Yorkshire captain rides his luck before young quick lands the crucial blow

Alan Gardner05-Apr-2025Yorkshire 121 and 189 for 6 (Lyth 57*, Bairstow 52, Wheal 4-41) lead Hampshire 249 (Brown 49*, Hill 3-36) by 61 runsJonny Bairstow led from the front as Yorkshire produced an admirable fightback on day two of their Championship opener, but it was his dismissal by Hampshire’s winter recruit, the rapid 22-year-old Sonny Baker, late in the day that tilted the contest back towards the home side.Baker was clocked at 92mph/148kph when playing for Hampshire in the Global Super League late last year, and impressed enough on the England Lions tour of Australia to be offered an ECB development contract. He had already claimed Bairstow as a maiden Championship wicket with his second delivery on Friday, and saw Yorkshire’s captain put down twice in the space of as many balls in the second innings, before returning for a second spell during the evening session to pluck out his middle stump and end a 105-run stand with Adam Lyth.Baker’s tail was up and he quickly dispatched the next man in, George Hill, who inside-edged his second ball for four before defending his third down into the stumps. With Brad Wheal claiming his fourth wicket of the innings before the close, Will Luxton caught down the leg side, Hampshire had regained the initiative after being made to toil in the afternoon sunshine.They made extra work for themselves, with Bairstow dropped three times early in his innings – chances of varying difficulty but all catchable. Yet from such scratchy beginnings, Bairstow brought himself to bear on proceedings through sheer force of personality, becoming the first batter in a low-scoring match to reach a half-century. His partnership with Lyth was worth almost as much as Yorkshire’s entire first innings, and gave them hope of turning the tables on Hampshire after conceding a 128-run deficit.Lyth also went past 50, his nuggety innings heading towards 200 balls without so much as a chance offered. After a dogged start he grew more expansive, comfortably negotiating a spell of short stuff from Baker, and his efforts at least helped give Yorkshire the prospect of something to bowl at in the fourth innings – as well as laying a marker after a worryingly flimsy display from his top-order colleagues.It did not look as though Hampshire would be detained for so long when Yorkshire were 4 for 2 after nine balls of their second dig, Fin Bean chipping Wheal tamely to mid-on and James Wharton trapped lbw for a golden duck. The scoreboard read 53 for 3 when Dawid Malan departed – Wheal finding his outside edge having switched ends – and the lead was still 75. A swift conclusion to the game was on the cards, and that may have transpired had Hampshire taken one of their opportunities against Bairstow.The first, when Bairstow had scored 6, saw Liam Dawson fail to cling on to a low caught-and-bowled chance going to his right. Baker was then brought into the attack, and his extra pace soon had the beans going as Bairstow picked out deep square leg with a flat pull – only for Nick Gubbins, stationed on the boundary, to drop the ball over the rope, taking a glancing blow to the head in the process.With Gubbins required to undergo a concussion check, he was replaced on the field by sub fielder Joe Weatherley. Baker duly banged in the next one and Bairstow took him on again, the resultant top-edge looping into the leg side, where Weatherley had to make up a lot of ground. Although he managed to get hands under the ball, it seemed to squirm from his grasp as he pitched forward into the turf. As Hampshire celebrated, Bairstow stood his ground; after conferring, the umpires agreed that he should continue.While the drama swirled around Bairstow, Lyth was almost literally a bystander. At tea, he had dug in for 13 from 103 balls, having barely played an attacking stroke. It was not until his 124th that he found the boundary with a flick off the pads; two balls later he had another, punching a cut through backward point.Hampshire resumed in the ascendency after a solid performance on day one, and stretched their advantage during a morning session that realized 85 runs for the loss of their last five wickets. Ben Brown, promoted to the captaincy in the wake of James Vince’s enforced red-ball hiatus, biffed an unbeaten 49 that included twice launching Ben Coad into the crowd at deep midwicket – although Yorkshire were aggrieved that he was not given out lbw on 2 when aiming an unsuccessful reverse-sweep at Dom Bess.