Hampshire all-rounder Gareth Berg admitted the scalp of Joe Root helped make up for missing out on his maiden hundred for the county.
Berg equalled the 99 he made against Sussex in 2015, his first season with Hampshire, before running out of partners.
His last century was his promotion-clinching 130 for Middlesex in 2011, but he was just delighted to help Hampshire recover from 302-7 to post 455.
“We started the day wanting 500 and didn’t get there but you talk about lower order runs and today proved it perfectly," he said.
“The last three partnerships amassing around 150 runs which is very very crucial in first division cricket.
“I’m not bothered about my runs personally but to get those lower order runs puts other teams under pressure.
“I am still searching for that century but if it comes it comes. I’m just looking at putting runs on the board so we can bowl at something."
Berg responded with a sensational opening spell (7-1-13-3) as Yorkshire were reduced to 19-4.
He began by trapping the left-handed Alex Lees lbw with his fourth ball.
WICKET: @Bergy646 you beauty! In his first over after striking 99*, Bergy hits Lees infront of all three and its given! 9-1 pic.twitter.com/gDV8xKHcMJ
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) April 22, 2017
The left-handed Adam Lyth chopped on midway through Berg's second over.
WICKET: @Bergy646 is at it again! Lyth chops on and the bails go flying - @YorkshireCCC in early trouble at 14-2. 🌹&👑 pic.twitter.com/jDhiiPASIu
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) April 22, 2017
After scoring eight runs from 31 balls in 44 minutes, Root then nicked Berg to Lewis McManus.
WICKET: @Bergy646 is on fire here, claiming his third scalp and it's the @englandcricket skipper no less! 🔥 Root (8) edges behind - 19-3. pic.twitter.com/6rsWI4dvHw
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) April 22, 2017
“I had never bowled to Root before, it was nice to bowl at him," continued Berg, in an interview with Radio Solent.
“He looked like he was scratching around and not sure what to do with me so I just stuck to my guns and put it on the same spot every ball and hoped one would find the edge.
“It was great to see him walk back to the pavilion.”
After Brad Wheal and Kyle Abbott claimed the big scalps of Peter Handscomb and Jonny Bairstow, both lbw, Berg returned for a second spell (6-2-19-1) during which he broke a stand of 48 with this dismissal of Tim Bresnan (21).
WICKET: What a day this man is having! @Bergy646 gets Bresnan (21) to poke at one and he feathers through to @lewis_mcmanus - 94-6. 🌹&👑 pic.twitter.com/IS5qMPiHER
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) April 22, 2017
“I was saying to the boys there was enough in the pitch if we bowled well and straight," he said.
“The new ball was key, we needed wickets early because it is flat out there with the soft ball, but the boys stuck to the task."
Yorkshire head coach Andrew Gale: “I thought we started well to get the four wickets and then we let them off the hook.
“Fair play to Berg he played well and then this afternoon a couple of decisions didn’t go our way but generally we were poor.
“It is definitely not a 128 for six pitch, the lads need to knuckle down and settle in and get the shine off the new ball and get some partnerships.
“Hampshire bowled well but we need to stand up and be better than that.
“We still back ourselves to get something from the game. We have been in similar positions and got something from the game.
“There is no reason why we can’t come out tomorrow and fight back into the game.
“No matter the result I expect the lads to fight tomorrow.
“Gary’s form has been outstanding at the start of the season, since he took the captaincy and has shown he is a true leader on the field.”
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