Sam Hain hits second century as Warwickshire survive Hampshire charge

Successive three-figure scores in the match secured the draw in Southampton despite Kyle Abbott taking 5-78 as the hosts were frustrated

Southampton (third day of four): Hampshire 539 & 171-8d, Warwickshire 307 & 347-8 - Match drawn

Scorecard

Sam Hain’s second century in the match and Ben Mike and Jeetan Patel’s brave half-centuries handed Warwickshire an unlikely Specsavers County Championship draw against Hampshire.

Batsman Hain hadn’t scored a first-class hundred for three years coming into the match but after 129 not out in the first innings and 104 in the second appears to have found red-ball form.

He was brilliantly partnered by Leicestershire loanee Mike, who claimed his maiden half-century, in a 120-run partnership, as they frustrated Hampshire before skipper Patel led another long partnership with fellow tailender Henry Brookes completed the incredible rear-guard performance.

The draw means Warwickshire edged further away from the relegation place, as they took 10 points from the match, while Hampshire’s title hopes took another huge dent despite a 13-point haul.

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Hampshire had looked on course for their fourth Championship victory of the season as they needed seven wickets on the final day at the Ageas Bowl.

Abbott had taken three wickets in a galvanic evening period on day three, which accounted for both openers, Dominic Sibley and Will Rhodes, and nightwatchman Olly Stone.

And he almost began the final day in style as Sam Hain edged behind but was spilt by a diving Lewis McManus.

Six overs later, Abbott bowled Rob Yates while coming around the wicket to sneak between bat and pad.

In his next over, Adam Hose made the mistake of leaving a straight delivery from Abbott – that left the visitors 52 for 5 and Abbott with figures of 5-78, his fourth five-wicket haul of the season.

Hain, who had scored a century in the first innings, frustrated Hampshire with a 51-run stand with Tim Ambrose for the sixth wicket.

But Keith Barker was rewarded for accurate bowling in both innings against his former county as Ambrose edged to Ajinkya Rahane at second slip.

Hain passed 50 for the second time in the match in 77 balls as he teamed up with Mike for the seventh wicket.

^{Kyle Abbott finished with five wickets but it was not enough to deliver victory}

They provided Hampshire an incredible amount of frustration as they battled through the entire afternoon session as the pair scored 120 in 40 overs, to hand the away side a glimmer of hope.

Hain reached his second hundred of the game, the first Warwickshire player to do so on the road since Ian Bell at Lancashire in 2004, in 188 balls – having not scored three figures in the Championship for three years prior to this match.

Mike moved to his personal best score of 68 not out, having reached his maiden half-century in 89 balls.

But the Mike and Hain vigil ended when Ian Holland, with three overs still to bowl until the second new ball, found Mike’s outside edge to be caught behind.

Organ then found a ball to turn out the rough and into the stumps to finally dismiss Hain in the match.

But the second new ball didn’t hand Hampshire the wickets they desired as Patel crunched his first fifty since 2017, in 53 balls.

Patel, with Brookes, held their ground for almost two hours, and 27 overs, to put on 112 for the ninth wicket to secure the draw, with hands shaken with a ball to spare.

Courtesy of the ECB reporters network

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