ALEX Lees has not ruled out salvaging at least a draw as Yorkshire go into the final day at Hampshire with a mountain to climb.

Yorkshire are batting hard to avoid a Specsavers County Championship defeat, having been made to follow on at the Ageas Bowl.

Bowled out for 231 in reply to Hampshire's first-innings 445 on the stroke of lunch, they slipped deep into trouble at 20-2 second time around.

But in-form captain Gary Ballance led a fightback with the help of Lees as they helped earn a close of play total of 178-3.

Ballance hit 108 in the first innings and added 78 not out in the second, with Yorkshire still trailing by 46 runs after Lees was out for 70.

Lees said: "We'd have liked to bat a little bit longer in the morning but we've put up a bit of a fight from lunch onwards. I think there's a lot of hard work left and hopefully we can keep going.

"I've felt good all year. I've just been getting out, which sometimes happens. I'm happy with 70. In the context of the game, they could be important runs.

"I managed to put on a decent partnership with Gaz – which, given the situation we were in, was a good time to get some. I almost had a hundred begging in front of me but hopefully this will kick-start my season.

"Gaz is in a really good place. The added responsibility of captain has probably given him another focus away from the England stuff over the last couple of years and it's bringing out the best in him. Hopefully he's not done there and he can get a big score today.

"If you're a Hampshire fan, all it takes is a couple of quick wickets and you're in the mix again.

"We're not counting this game as a draw but it will need some hard work in the morning. They've got 20 overs until the new ball, which will be a key period before lunch."