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.