Hampshire Settle For A Draw After Impressive Bowling Display

Hampshire produced a valiant bowling display on the final day, but their Specsavers County Championship match against Lancashire at the The Ageas Bowl ended as a draw.

Mason Crane (3-87) and Liam Dawson (3-63) both took advantage of the turning pitch early in the day to prevent Lancashire from avoiding the follow-on, dismissing them for 387, to give Hants a chance of victory, 

Despite three more wickets for Dawson in the evening session, the visitors successfully batted out the final session to finish on 98-3 in their second innings.  

The hard-fought draw leaves Hampshire with 9 points from the match whilst Lancashire return to Old Trafford with 7 points.

Hampshire knew any chance of securing a victory on the final day would depend on early wickets and thankfully for the home side leg-spinner Mason Crane delivered.

Crane, who along with his incredible natural spin got extra assistance from a wearing pitch, found regular turn and the odd bounce with his leg breaks and he accounted for two of three wickets in quick succession during the morning session.

At 333-7, Hampshire were on top and it was Liam Dawson who finished off an excellent morning for the hosts by dismissing wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Moores (18) on the stroke of lunch.

Two wickets in five balls early in the afternoon session gave Hants a fighting chance of an unlikely win by enforcing the follow-on.

With 58 overs left in the match, Will Smith tried every option he had available to make the breakthrough but openers Steve Croft and Haseeb Hameed patiently saw Lancashire through to tea on 37-0, 124 runs behind.

Dawson’s impressive form with the ball continued into the evening session as he picked up three Lancashire wickets – six in total during the final day – but young opener Haseeb Hameed (53*) led Lancashire to stumps on 98-3 ending the match as a draw.