Hampshire are enjoying their best start to a season in the Specsavers County Championship's first division, despite having to settle for a draw against Yorkshire at The Ageas Bowl.

They gave themselves hope of a second win against the 2014 and 2015 champions this month by taking the big wickets of Peter Handscomb (40) and Jonny Bairstow (one) before lunch.

But Yorkshire, who began the final day 178-3 overnight (46 behind), were 175 ahead on 399-6 when hands were shaken at 4.50pm.

Gary Ballance was unbeaten on 203 after becoming the first Yorkshire captain to score two centuries in a first-class match, having batted a total of 1,252 minutes.

Hampshire were without the injured Brad Wheal (side strain), but two wickets in nine balls gave them brief hope of a second win in three matches.

Handscomb helped put on 88 before he was dismissed by Liam Dawson, eight deliveries before the second new ball.

The Australian was fortunate not to be caught by Jimmy Adams at backward point on 33, before departing for 40 when Dawson took a low catch off his own bowling following a leading edge.

Then Kyle Abbott struck with the first delivery with the new cherry, which Bairstow edged to James Vince at third slip.

Bresnan was struck a painful blow on the hand by Abbott shortly before lunch and survived two chances early in the penultimate session.

The former England man was on ten when he nicked Abbott to third slip, where Vince got his fingertips to the ball, and had  14 to his name when he edged Reece Topley low to Adams at second slip.

He was struck in the box by Topley's next delivery, but was still there at tea on 31 after putting on 83 with Ballance in 39.5 overs.

Bresnan became Topley's second victim of the match when he nicked behind for 37 (132 balls) in the third over of the final session.

But by then Yorkshire's lead had been extended to 132.

Hands were shaken once Ballance reached his double century (from 384 balls) by cutting Sean Ervine's occasional off-spin for his 23rd four.

Hampshire director of cricket Giles White said: “It was a frustrating day. You turn up and hope things go your way and you get a win but it didn’t go our way.

“We knew it would be hard work, it was a good wicket and remained a good wicket all the way through.

“Gary Ballance played outstandingly well and was really resilient.

“When you lose a strike bowler, like we have in the last two games, it makes it very difficult.

“I felt Berg and Abbott in particular were outstanding and on another could have been on the other side.”

Yorkshire head coach Andrew Gale said: “Given the position we were in we were backs to the wall but Gary has had another special game.

"On the whole we bowled well but maybe lacked a bit of x-factor like a Liam Plunkett or a Jack Brooks.

“We probably let them off the hook to get 450  but showed what Yorkshire cricket is about - if you can’t win, don’t get beat. It was a terrific effort in the end.”

Hampshire are still enjoying their best start to a season since winning three of their first four matches in the Championship's second division under Shane Warne in 2004.

They are next in action against Kent at Canterbury in the Royal London One-day Cup on Thursday.

Hampshire's next Championship match is against Essex at Chelmsford on May 19.