Day 3 at Lord's - Stumps: Hampshire 176 & 195-7*; Middlesex 330
Hampshire’s Sean Terry and Adam Wheater made half-centuries in contrasting styles but they are unlikely to prevent Middlesex from completing their fourth win of the season in the LV County Championship.
While opener Terry laboured patiently for nearly three and a half hours for his second fifty of the season Wheater gave the Hampshire innings belated impetus with 50 off just 45 balls.
But Middlesex’s attack maintained their discipline in the soaring temperatures on a turgid surface at Lord’s and by stumps had reduced Hampshire to 195 for 7, a lead of just 41.
When Will Smith, whose 30 runs were compiled in a shade under three hours, and Wheater were dismissed by off-spinner Ollie Rayner in successive overs Middlesex were eyeing a three-day win. Rayner also removed Joe Gatting late in the day but Hampshire at least took the game into a fourth day.
Hampshire began their second innings 156 runs behind but their top order was undone by a fine spell either side of lunch by James Harris, who now has 48 Championship wickets after taking three in four balls.
Jimmy Adams (28) mis-timed a pull and was caught down the leg side before Michael Carberry’s miserable form continued. The former England left-hander has scored just 90 runs in his last eight Championship innings after he was caught behind pushing half-forward to Harris while James Vince (3) lost his off stump playing down the wrong line.
Terry and Smith regrouped in an afternoon session which yielded just 58 runs in 34 overs. Smith offered a chance on five which the diving Nick Compton got a hand too at mid-wicket but could not hold on as the fourth wicket pair added 50 in 31 overs.
Terry faced 171 balls and hit six fours but fell to the sixth ball after tea, leg before when Tim Murtagh shaped one in down the slope.
Wheater attacked from the start, overtaking Smith when he reached 25 from 71 fewer deliveries as he drove impressively and rotated the strike, but Rayner had settled into a groove at the pavilion end by then and picked up belated reward with three wickets.
Smith was caught at backward point off a leading edge after labouring nearly three hours and 123 balls for 30, which included just two boundaries, then Wheater played a poor shot across the line the delivery after reaching a 45-ball 50. Rayner’s arm ball was too good for Joe Gatting (4) but Gareth Berg and Danny Briggs took their side safely to stumps.
Earlier, Middlesex had been bowled out for 330 in their first innings. Bradley Wheal removed Rayner shortly after he’d reached his half-century to finish with 4 for 101.
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Day 3 at Lord's - Tea
An unbeaten half-century by Hampshire opener Sean Terry held up Middlesex’s victory in their LV County Championship tussle at Lord’s.
The 23-year-old passed 50 for the second time this season as Hampshire, who started their second innings 154 in arrears, recovered from 56 for 3 to reach 102 for 3 at tea, with just 58 runs scored in 34 overs in the session. Terry has so far faced 165 balls and hit six fours.
James Harris had earlier raised Middlesex’s hopes by taking three wickets in four overs either side of lunch, all off the last ball of an over.
After Jimmy Adams (28) was strangled down the leg side to the final ball of the morning session, Harris had Michael Carberry well caught low down by John Simpson before bowling James Vince (3) as he pushed hesitantly forward.
It was hard going thereafter for Hampshire and Will Smith had a reprieve on five when Nick Compton just failed to hold on to a hard chance at mid-wicket but survived to reach 20 not out at the break.
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Day 3 at Lord's - Lunch
Hampshire suffered a blow on the stroke of lunch as they battled to avoid defeat against Middlesex on the third day of the LV County Championship match at Lord’s.
Having negotiated 17 overs with opening partner Sean Terry after his side had begun their second innings 154 behind, skipper Jimmy Adams gloved an attempted pull and caught behind down the leg side off James Harris for 28 to the last ball before lunch, Harris's 46th wicket of the season.
Hampshire reached 44 for 1 at the interval, with Terry undefeated on 16.
Earlier, Ollie Rayner had reached a patient half-century for the hosts before he was dismissed for 52 as Middlesex were dismissed for 330.
Rayner was last man out, bowled swinging across the line at Brad Wheal, who finished with 4 for 101.
Jackson Bird had earlier picked up his third wicket when he yorked Toby Roland-Jones for 14.
