JAMES Vince made his highest first-class score for five months before Hampshire relinquished a strong position against Yorkshire by losing their last six wickets for 23 runs.

Gareth Berg completed a career-best 6-56 in the fourth over of day two by bowling Ryan Sidebottom as the defending champions were all out for 281.

But Hampshire could only manage 222 in reply - having been 199-4 - and were 128 behind when Yorkshire closed on 68-1, after the left-handed Alex Lees lost his leg stump to an inswinging Brad Wheal yorker.

That was a rare highlight for Hampshire on day two. Will Smith (one) and Tom Alsop (three) were both lbw in the first 11 overs of Hampshire’s reply and they were 38-3 when Jimmy Adams (23) clipped to mid-wicket.

But Vince looked determined to bounce back from a disappointing summer with England as he reached his first red-ball half century since his 119 against Yorkshire at Headingley in April.

Captaining Hampshire in the Specsavers County Championship for the first time since May, he shared a stand of 107 in 22.4 overs with Sean Ervine, who top scored with a 123-ball 80.

Vince batted fluently, stroking ten fours in 84 balls. But just when he looked set for a big one he was out in similar fashion to many of his Test dismissals, caught at second slip after hanging out his bat against former England all-rounder Tim Bresnan.

It was hoped Ervine would become the first Hampshire batsman since Michael Clarke in 2004 to score three successive centuries, following his 103 and 106 against Somerset at Taunton.

Hampshire’s beneficiary was also looking to register his second century of the season against Yorkshire (he made 123 at Headingley in April).

As well as his 12 fours, he struck Azeem Rafiq’s off-spin for a straight six. But after putting on 54 in 15 overs with Ryan McLaren (26) he got a nick against the indefatigable Ryan Sidebottom, who caught the shoulder of the left-hander’s bat with a beauty.

Lewis McManus (six) and McLaren departed in the last three balls before tea.

Then Jack Brooks accounted for Gareth Berg and Brad Wheal, both for eight-ball ducks, in successive overs before completing a season’s best 5-53.

Yorkshire bowling: Sidebottom 19-6-45-3, Brooks 17.2-7-53-5, Bresnan 10-1-49-1, Patterson 10-2-39-1, Rafiq 8-0-27-0