OLD TRAFFORD

(day two of four: Lancashire won toss)

Lancashire 357.

Hampshire 174 for three (M Brown 75*, C Benham 70*)

Lunch

Lancashire’s batsmen stuttered though the morning session, but eventually reached a decent total thanks to some resourceful lower-order batting from Dominic Cork, Gary Keedy and Sajid Mahmood, which saw them to a fourth batting point.

In muggy conditions, Francois du Plessis had earlier become the fourth batsman to reach 50 but fail to go much further, trapped leg-before by an inswinger from James Tomlinson.

Hampshire were left with an awkward 20-minute period to survive before lunch and Sean Ervine, the makeshift opener, did not make it that far, caught at point as he sliced a drive at Mahmood.

The afternoon session should give us a better idea of just how good Lancashire’s total will prove to be.

Tea

In an attritional afternoon session, Hampshire have been attempting to claw their way back into the game after slipping to 35 for three. Michael Brown has led the resistance with a determined, unbeaten 37, finding solid support from Chris Benham, with whom he has added 40 for the fourth wicket.

Glen Chapple and Dominic Cork took a wicket each in the afternoon, Chapple knocking out John Crawley’s off stump and Cork having Michael Lumb caught behind as he edged an airy drive. Hampshire, the bottom side, are meandering along at little more than two runs an over, but caution has to be their watchword as they continue their salvage operation.

Close

From the depths of 35 for three, Hampshire made considerable progress after tea to haul themselves back into this game as Brown and Benham extended their fourth-wicket stand to an unbroken 139 in 51 overs. Their scoring-rate has been unspectacular but their discipline exemplary, waiting patiently for scoring opportunities on a slow pitch.

Brown has so far faced 225 balls for his 75, Benham 133 balls for his 70. Benham survived a chance that flew between wicketkeeper and slip when he had made 65, but otherwise they have offered Lancashire few chances. Their vigil resumes in the morning.