Dawson Ton Puts Hants On Top Against Warwickshire

Liam Dawson (116) scored his first Specsavers County Championship century of the season as Hampshire dominated Warwickshire on a hugely rewarding opening day at Edgbaston, finishing on 304-4 at stumps.

Will Smith’s (21) decision to bat first paid off as Dawson showed international class to help Hants claim three batting points, as Adam Wheater (89*) and Tom Alsop (50) added fine half-tons after Warwickshire reduced the visitors to 63-2 in the morning.

20-year-old Alsop continued to show promise and Adam Wheater continues to make ground with the bat after putting on 155 runs with Dawson and closing out a positive day's play alongside Mason Crane (1*).

Now firmly on top at the end of day one, the decision to bat was a good one, but Hampshire were pegged back at the start of the innings as Smith was trapped at lbw by Barker and Jimmy Adams (14) was caught by home skipper Bell.  

The opening pair made 35 runs together before Warwickshire claimed their first wicket, as captain Smith fell to Barker in the 15^th over.

Adams faced 89 balls as he steadily accumulated 14 runs, but his patient play was unrewarded as Hampshire were dealt a second blow - the former captain was caught smartly off the bowling of Patel.

Alsop and Dawson went for lunch at 85-2 and then set the foundations for what could be a mammoth total for the visitors, approaching the afternoon session with real positivity and both finding the boundary immediately after the break to climb beyond 100.

The pair were neck-and-neck as they approached their respective half-tons, and it was the youngster who reached his fifty first, having hit six boundaries and one maximum off 100 balls.

Dawson’s limited-overs form has impressed national selectors, and short-format cricket was having its influence on his innings at Edgbaston, as he reached his half-ton off just 78 balls soon after.

An impressive 81-run partnership gave Hampshire the advantage in the contest and, when Alsop was removed by Poysden, taking the first wicket after lunch, Hampshire were 144-3 as Wheater joined Dawson.

Hampshire began to really assert their dominance at Edgbaston after tea, securing their first and second batting point, as Dawson and Wheater surpassed a 100-run stand.

Dawson scored his eighth first-class hundred and his first County Championship century of the season, taking 200 minutes and facing 169 balls to put Hampshire in the driving seat on day one. 

His 155-run partnership with Wheater was ended when he was trapped at lbw by Barker, and Hampshire were just one shy of 300 at the fall of their fourth wicket. Dawson's innings showed true versatility with the bat, able to score patiently and heavily, and adapting his style depending on the situation in the game.

Hampshire enter day two in a commanding position on 304-4 after 96 overs, after Mason Crane closed out a hugely positive day of batting for the visitors alongside Wheater, who has looked in fine form and looks set for his own century.