Lancashire Vs. Hampshire LVCC day four.

Lancashire win despite Hampshire resistance.

Lancashire were tested by a defiant Hampshire side but
were able to reach their eighth championship win.

Spectators and players alike were stunned by Hampshire’s efforts to prevent the Division Two leaders from clinching an eighth LV County Championship win, but two wickets in three balls ensured that Lancashire eventually reached a 122-run victory to take a gigantic leap towards returning to the first division.

Now 77 points clear of Essex in third place, Lancashire have all-but secured promotion back to Division One and face Leicestershire in their next match, who are currently bottom of league

and are yet to win a match this season.

A record-breaking eighth-wicket partnership between Adam Wheater and Matt Coles worth 191 knocked the stuffing out of the Lancashire faithful, who might have expected the match to be finished inside the first hour. 

The former led the fight-back, reaching his first ever century for Hampshire from 182 balls, striking 19 fours against a heavily aggressive field setting, as the wicket-keeper forced the ball through the infield on several occasions.

In the same over loan signing Coles (68) reached a half-century, announcing his use as a batsman for his new side in an innings containing 11 boundaries.

The hosts, who were without captain Glen Chapple due to a hamstring injury, exercised every bowling option possible in attempt to end the frustration that had settled in.

Steven Croft, Andrea Agathangelou and Luke Procter were all unsuccessful in the pursuit for a vital breakthrough as Hampshire began to believe a victory was now possible.

Finally, Simon Kerrigan (4-97) found the wicket Lancashire desperately needed, forcing Wheater to edge behind to stand-in captain Gareth Cross for 140, much to the relief of the hosts and their fans.

As is often the case in cricket, one wicket brought another, as Matt Coles swiped at a straight delivery from Luis Reece (1-20), forcing Hampshire to lose their second wicket in three balls.

But the visitors were not finished just yet – adding 53 runs for the tenth-wicket to prolong Lancashire’s wait for success. Veteran James Tomlinson (30) and sixteen-year-old Brad Taylor (20) played flamboyant strokes at the death, providing entertainment to the limited fourth-day crowd at Southport.

The latter eventually fell, dancing down the wicket to Kerrigan, as he was stumped by Cross, to round off a deserved victory for Lancashire, who were truly tested by a defiant Hampshire outfit.

Photos from final day at Southport.

Lancashire Vs. Hampshire LVCC day three.

Lancashire set to claim valuable win over Hampshire.

The division two leaders require just three more of Hampshire’s second innings wickets on the final day of this LV County Championship match to claim yet another win, which will all-but secure promotion back to the first division for the 2011 champions.

Setting Hampshire a mighty 496 to win, the hosts dominated proceedings, reducing the visitors to 127-7 after they added a further 245 runs to their aggregate lead over the poor South-Coast outfit.

Paul Horton led the pursuit with 111, as he and Luis Reece made the highest opening stand of the season (166) to dampen the spirits of the visitors. 
The latter made his sixth consecutive fifty of the season eventually falling to sixteen-year-old Brad Taylor, who claimed figures of 4-64.

Further aggressive contributions from Ashwell Prince (38) and Andrea Agathangelou (28) bolstered an unassailable lead further, the latter smashing a six off his first ball and a second on to the train tracks.

Lancashire eventually declared upon the dismissal of Luke Procter, who was bowled by Liam Dawson for 10, and were soon amongst the top-order of an inferior opposition, reducing Hampshire to 63-5.

Captain Glen Chapple claimed the first of these wickets, his opposite Jimmy Adams, but soon pulled-up with a hamstring injury, preventing him from playing any further duties for this day at least.

But further contributions ensured that Hampshire were well and truly on the back foot, as Kyle Hogg removed the remaining opener, Michael Roberts, and first innings centurion, James Vince, to become the leading wicket taker in the championship form either division.

Neil McKenzie’s lone effort of 44 stood out amongst a series of errors - Sean Ervine gifted his wicket to a poorly selected slog and after a short delay for bad light Chris Wood was run out after failing to watch where the ball had travelled, both incidents involving the fielding of Procter.

With fellow promotion contenders Northamptonshire defeating Glamorgan, division two will soon be over as a contest, as the gulf between Lancashire and the other teams in the second-tier extending further every week.

Photos from third day at Southport.