Hampshire Secure Emphatic Innings Victory On Final Day Against Warwickshire

Hampshire secured an emphatic innings victory as they defeated Warwickshire on day four of their Specsavers County Championship contest at the The Ageas Bowl.

Kyle Abbott (4-32) and spin twins Mason Crane (2-50) and Sean Ervine (2-1) whipped through the struggling visitors to pull off an excellent victory by an innings and 94 runs.

Ian Bell (68) reached his 99th first class fifty, as he looked the only player at home on a tricky wicket, before he was bowled by Abbott.

Jonathan Trott (23), who had batted all but 13 balls on day three, departed soon after as Crane found turn and bounce to find his outside edge with Ervine taking a good catch at first slip.

Abbott’s golden arm then saw him pin Sam Hain (14) LBW, before Rikki Clarke (0) departed in similar fashion without score.

Gareth Berg (2-42) replaced Abbott at the Pavilion End and had his own success in his second over when he had Tim Ambrose (5) plumb LBW – leaving Warwickshire in dire straits at 131-7.

After the interval, Crane continued to bowl beautifully, a spell that was rewarded when perfectly-flighted googly beat Grant Thornton (9) and wrapped him on the pads.

The rain arrived which saw the players leave the field for 20 minutes but when play resumed, Hampshire took little time in rolling through the tail.

Boyd Rankin (4) was bowled leaving an Ervine delivery on off-stump, before the Warwickshire innings was brough to a close, Ervine pinning Sunny Singh (0) who fell LBW.

The victory was Hampshire's third of the season and George Bailey's side currently sit top of the Specsavers County Championship Division One.