JACK BROOKS’ 250th first-class wicket helped Yorkshire take control of their County Championship clash with Hampshire.

The England Lions seamer finished the second day with figures of 3-55 as Hampshire closed on 223-8 and in danger of handing their hosts a large first innings lead at Headingley.

An innings of 97 from Michael Carberry threatened to derail Yorkshire’s bid for a healthy position in the match, but after he became the first of three victims for Adil Rashid, the visitors lost four wickets in the final 12 overs to hand the Tykes the initiative.

And despite his personal milestone, Brooks was focused on how the team could best utilise their strong position moving into day three.

“I haven’t tried giving it too much thought. I just wanted to get on with the job in hand and help the team out,” he said.

“It was hard work today. I thought my first spell was pretty good and probably deserved some wickets, but then I didn’t bowl as well and ended up picking up wickets later in the day.

“Day three of these games is always the moving day and you can see where the game is going to go. We know what it takes to win here and we’re a confident team. We’ve got a bit of a squeeze on them now so hopefully we can keep our foot on their throat.”

Earlier Yorkshire were unable to take advantage of their overnight position of 333-7 as they added just 37 runs before being bowled out for 370.

James Tomlinson removed both Tim Bresnan and Jack Leaning, the latter for 82, as he finished with figures of 4-86 before Brooks became Fidel Edwards’ first Hampshire wicket as he failed to fend off a bouncer from the West Indies paceman.

Brooks’ mood did not improve as he first saw Leaning and then Adam Lyth miss chances to catch Liam Dawson in the slip cordon, and though Bresnan removed Sean Terry for a duck, Dawson and Carberry were able to add 75 for the second wicket.

Will Rhodes eventually broke the partnership as Leaning this time held on to dismiss Dawson for 40 before two wickets in two balls from Brooks swung the pendulum back Yorkshire’s way.

He removed James Vince for six after the Hampshire skipper offered no shot and was adjudged LBW before getting Will Smith with the next delivery as Lyth took the catch at second slip.

Sean Ervine survived the hat-trick ball before he and Carberry dragged Hampshire back into the game with a stand of 86 for the fifth wicket.

Carberry batted exceptionally as he went past 12,000 first-class runs, only to hole out to Che Pujara three runs short of a century off the bowling of Rashid.

And Ervine followed him in the very next over as he pulled straight to Steven Patterson on the fine leg boundary to hand Brooks his third wicket for 48.

Yorkshire were not done there as Rashid accounted for both Gareth Berg and Andre Adams before the close as the visitors finished the day still 143 in arrears.