Honours even at Rose Bowl

Smith: In the runs

LV County Championship - Division One
The Rose Bowl
Lancashire 283 (S Chanderpaul 118, D G Cork 4-57) & 351-6 dec (T C Smith 128, G D Cross 100 no) v Hampshire 369 (J H K Adams 72, S M Ervine 56, D G Cork 54 no, G Keedy 4-56, G Chapple 4-68)
Hampshire (10pts) drew with Lancashire (7pts)

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Tom Smith and Gareth Cross both hit final day centuries as Lancashire and Hampshire played out a draw at the Rose Bowl.

It is a result that benefits neither side as Lancashire's title hopes suffered another setback while Hampshire slipped to within two points of the relegation zone.

A mixture of rain and bad light in previous days had meant the chances of a result being manufactured on the final day were slim with Lancashire on 106-1 in their second innings, and Hampshire still to bat again.

A flurry of early wickets were required, but Smith notched his second LV=County Championship century of the season as the match drifted towards a predictable draw.

Mark Chilton fell three runs short of his half-century and young off-spinner Danny Briggs (3-142) claimed three wickets, but a third century of the match, from Red Rose gloveman Cross, sealed the draw.

Smith departed for a classy 128 while Cross made exactly 100 off 134 balls before the players shook hands shortly after tea.

Day Three

Tom Smith and Mark Chilton compiled an unbeaten second-wicket stand of 98 as Lancashire battled their way out of trouble against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

Lancashire, who are the only unbeaten team left in the County Championship, started their second innings trailing by 86 after the hosts had been dismissed for 369.

And their woes continued when Opening batsman Paul Horton (five) was bowled by James Tomlinson in the fourth over, but Smith (60no) and Chilton (32no) led the recovery and left Lancashire on 106-1 at the close.

Earlier, Hampshire had began day three on 287-6 and after the 300 was brought up, Michael Bates (seven) and David Balcombe (0) both fell victim to Glen Chapple (4-68).

However, skipper Dominic Cork hit an unbeaten 54 to ensure tail wagged as he put on a ninth-wicket partnership of 48 with Tomlinson (19).

Gary Keedy then mopped up the final two wickets to finish as the pick of the Lancashire bowlers with figures of 4-56.

Day Two

Jimmy Adams and Sean Ervine made half-centuries as Hampshire gained the upper hand at the Rose Bowl.

Lancashire began the second day at 262 for eight and added another 21 runs but when bad light brought a premature end, Hampshire were four runs ahead at 287 for six.

Simon Kerrigan was out at 267 when Lancashire resumed their first innings and 16 runs later Gary Keedy was bowled by former Lancashire all-rounder Dominic Cork.

Cork finished with figures for four for 57 and there were two wickets each for David Balcombe and spinner Danny Briggs.

The big-hitting Ervine smashed his way to a rapid 56 in an innings which included five fours and a six before he gave Chapple his second success of the innings.

Cork and Michael Bates, making his debut, took the score past the Lancashire total before bad light intruded.

Chapple finished the day with two for 48 and Keedy's 19 overs brought figures of two for 45.

Adams' half-century was his seventh of the season and put Hampshire in a powerful position at the end of the second day.

Day One

Shivnarine Chanderpaul helped guide Lancashire to a respectable first day total with an innings of 118 at the Rose Bowl, the 54th first-class century of the West Indian's career.

Chanderpaul faced 217 balls and hit 16 fours to help Lancashire recover to a position of parity, before Hampshire skipper Dominic Cork had him caught at the wicket after more than 70 overs of defiance.

Lancashire captain Glen Chapple chose to bat first in overcast conditions which offered plenty of help to the Hampshire attack and at the close Lancashire had mustered 262 for eight from 96 overs.

Chanderpaul came to the wicket when Lancashire were 35 for two in the 18th over, having lost Tom Smith to a catch at the wicket and Paul Horton to another at second slip off David Balcombe.

Chanderpaul received precious little support as the ball darted around in the first session and then again after lunch.

He was involved in two substantial stands in an otherwise bowler-dominated day. Steven Croft (41) helped him add 78 for the fourth wicket and Luke Sutton (29) added another 77 for the sixth.

Hampshire shared the wickets around, with Cork finishing with two for 48 against his former employers, David Balcombe taking two for 63 and the promising Danny Briggs two for 54 from 18 accurate overs.