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Liam Dawson hits first fifty of the season as Hants take nine points from the match
Hampshire: 202 & 185/5 (71.5 ov)
Warwickshire: 360
Match Drawn
Points: Hampshire (9), Warwickshire (12)
A brilliant unbeaten partnership between Liam Dawson (50*) and Adam Wheater (34*) helped Hampshire secure a draw in their opening Specsavers County Championship match against Warwickshire at the The Ageas Bowl.
Hampshire had been put on the back foot by quick wickets in the afternoon session but the pair batted for 47 overs to save the game for the hosts.
It was a very important partnership at that stage of the game. We were under pressure at that moment and they both came through and showed some character, batted well and made good decisions and saw us to the draw. We will take the points and move on to Headingley.
Giles White, Hampshire Director of Cricket
Warwickshire were in a good position to attempt to force a result after Ian Bell further helped his England Test recall by scoring miserly-turned-adventurous 174.
The Warwickshire captain notched up 44 morning runs with a masterclass of field piercing shots – showcasing reverse sweeps, cover drives and the rest of his repertoire.
He reached 150 in 268 balls and looked to attack the ball to push the score moving and put pressure on Hampshire.
At the other end the visitors lost their first wicket of the day, Rikki Clarke (7) was on the wrong end of a Adam Wheater stunner, as the keeper dove low to his right to grab an outside edge.
Bell was the next to fall as he tried one shot too many and skied James Tomlinson to James Vince at mid-on.
Off-spinner Liam Dawson (1-53) had bowled brilliantly on day three and finally got the wicket his tight-fisted deserved – Jeetan Patel’s pole knocked back.
Boyd Rankin (0) was the last to depart as he copied his captain and lofted one to Vince – Warwickshire ending on 360, with a lead of 158.
Hampshire wobbled in their effort to save the game, as Warwickshire’s bowling attack shared the wickets.
Keith Barker got two while Clarke, Patel and Rankin all grabbed a scalp each, with the latter picking up his sixth of the match – the visitors getting their tails up.
Fast bowler Barker was the first to strike as Michael Carberry (18) edged to Varun Chopra at first slip, before Sam Hain pulled off a close catch to get rid of Tom Alsop (24) – giving Rankin his wicket.
Spinner Patel caused problems throughout the session, with regular oohs and ahhs when the ball gripped and got his reward when he had Will Smith (3) leg before and the hosts were left in trouble when skipper James Vince (21) was also out lbw to Clarke.
Barker ended the game with match figures of seven for 83 – his last victim Sean Ervine, who edged to Tim Ambrose behind the stumps.
But keeper Wheater and all-rounder Dawson took over and guided Hampshire into a lead.
And hands were finally shaken just before 6pm, as Liam Dawson reached a half century to salvage a draw – Hampshire nabbing what could be a useful nine points, Warwickshire collecting 12 to kick-start their title bid.
