OLD TRAFFORD

(final day of four: Lancashire won toss)

Lancashire 357 and 155. Hampshire 288 and 215 for seven (C Benham 64, N Pothas 35)

Match drawn.

Lunch

The game is nicely poised with two sessions to go after Hampshire took Lancashire’s final three wickets for 34 runs, leaving themselves a target of 225 for victory.

But they have already lost two wickets in the first seven overs, both of them to Glen Chapple. Michael Brown was leg-before to a ball that seamed back and John Crawley glanced a catch behind down the leg-side.

Unsurprisingly, the three Lancashire wickets to fall this morning were all taken by Imran Tahir. On his championship debut for Hampshire, the Pakistan A leg-spinner finished with seven for 66 in the second innings, giving him match figures of twelve for 189. It now remains to be seen whether Hampshire’s batsmen can capitalise on his outstanding efforts.

Tea

From a distinctly unpromising position at 63 for four, Hampshire are back in the hunt due to an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 54 between Chris Benham and Nic Pothas. In the final session, they need a further 108 runs from a minimum of 32 overs. All results remain possible.

When Michael Lumb was fourth man out, top-edging a sweep to slip off Gary Keedy, Lancashire were firmly on top, with Hampshire needing 162 from their last six wickets. But Benham and Pothas are now well on their way towards that target. An enthralling denouement awaits.

Close

In a thrilling finale, Hampshire needed 15 off the final over, bowled by Glen Chapple, but could manage only five and the match was drawn. With 50 needed from the last ten, they had proceeded cautiously until the last couple of overs and by the time that Dimitri Mascarenhas chanced his arm, there was too much left to do.

Pothas had been caught behind shortly after tea and, when Benham sliced a drive to point off Sajid Mahmood, a lengthy tail was exposed. There is the consolation for Hampshire that the draw moves them off the bottom of the table, while Lancashire move up to second.