Carberry's Unbeaten Half-Century Helps Hampshire Stay In Contention

Michael Carberry struck an excellent unbeaten half-century to help Hampshire remain in contention on day two of their Specsavers County Championship match against Middlesex at the The Ageas Bowl.

Carberry, who struck the ball magnificently, batted patiently to record 84* at the close and help lay the initial foundations of Hampshire's innings, after the hosts had earlier dismissed Middlesex for 356 in the morning session.

The left-hander helped steer his side to 113-3 at tea before then kicking on to record his half-century in the evening session of the day, guiding Hampshire to 209-4 at the close.

Middlesex resumed the second day with four first-innings wickets remaining, but it didn't take long for the first of those to fall as Kyle Abbott (2-87) found James Franklin's outside edge with the catch well-held in the slips.

Toby Roland-Jones (39) continued to apply pressure for the visitors, but he also departed, this time at the hands of the impresseive Brad Wheal (4-98) to give him his fourth of the innings.

Another wicket fell the very next ball, this time Liam Dawson (1-72) doing the damage before Wheal completed the innings by trapping Steven Finn  (2) LBW.

Hampshire began positively in reply, Jimmy Adams (34) and Carberry seeing out the final eight overs before lunch, and then kicking on after the interal to reach their fifty partnership.

Adams departed shortly after, and with James Vince (8) soon following, it required Carberry and Dawson to steady the innings.

Both batsman did so and looked comfortable, however the 43-run partnership was brought to end on the stroke of tea as Dawson (19) was adjudged to have edged behind in the session's final over.

Dawson's dismissal brought Ervine to the crease and he looked in good touch from the off, supporting Carberry well whilst also accumulating himself.

Ervine too reached a valuable half-century, and he looked sure to reach the close without issue alonside Carberry, but England's Finn found an inside edge which clipped the stumps to see Ervine depart, with just less than six overs before the close.

Despite some accurate bowling from Finn and Ollie Rayner (2-46) in those final overs, both Carberry and Abbott successfully navigated their way to stumps without further loss.