OLD TRAFFORD

(day three of four: Lancashire won toss)

Lancashire 357 & 121-7 (Tahir 4-48), Hampshire 288 (D Mascarenhas 49)

Lunch

After Hampshire’s battling display yesterday, Lancashire took four wickets this morning to boost their hopes of pushing for victory.

Dominic Cork bowled an excellent spell with the old ball, finding reverse-swing to take two wickets in four balls. Michael Brown was leg-before for 76, pushing forward, then Nic Pothas was adjudged to have been caught at gully off bat and pad, although to judge by his indignant reaction, he felt that he had not hit the ball.

When Cork caught Chris Tremlett off Gary Keedy at mid-off, Hampshire were struggling on 208 for seven, but Dimitri Mascarenhas has offered some resistance. Lancashire need to polish off the tail this afternoon if they are not to run out of time.

Tea

When Hampshire were finally bowled out for 288 in the afternoon, 69 behind on the first innings, the thoughts of the Lancashire crowd turned to how many their side would need before making a declaration.

Seventeen overs later, the picture looks rather different as the home side have been reduced to 54 for four, only 123 runs ahead with a priority of making themselves safe before they can contemplate a declaration. Imran Tahir, the leg-spinner who took five wickets in the first innings, has rocked Lancashire with two wickets in his first five overs, having Stuart Law caught at short leg with a googly and bowling Paul Horton as he tried to pull.

Suddenly, the pressure has shifted onto Lancashire.

Close

Two more wickets from Tahir, who bowled a brilliant spell of leg-spin, have given Hampshire hope that they may yet sneak a victory from this game. Lancashire are 190 runs ahead with only three wickets in hand and Tahir is turning his leg-breaks sharply. He has four for 48 to add to the five wickets he took in the first innings. His top-spinner has been a particularly potent weapon, beating both Horton and Glen Chapple on the back foot.

Any target above 200 will not be easy to chase on a fourth-day pitch, but Hampshire are firmly back in the game.