Woakes takes seven wickets to fire up Bears title hopes

Woakes' previous best was 6-43 for England Lions against the West Indians

Young England hopeful Chris Woakes took a career best 7-20 against hapless Hampshire to fire up Warwickshire's County Championship title hopes.

Division One backmarkers Hampshire were bowled out for just 141 at Edgbaston, Warwickshire replying on 96-4 before rain had the final say.

Sean Ervine (36) and Dimitri Mascarenhas (33) were Hamspshire's main rungetters.

Varun Chopra then led the way for the Bears, hitting six fours in his 55.

The opener reached 1,000 runs in a season for the first time as Hampshire's seamers, including James Tomlinson, who took his first wickets in an injury-troubled season, chipped away without matching Woakes' impact.

But West Indies Test star Shivnarine Chanderpaul was caught at second slip for just a single on his Championship debut for Warwickshire.

With the selectors about to name their squads for the end-of-summer one-day internationals against Ireland and India, 22-year-old seamer Woakes picked a good time to surpass his previous best of 6-43 for England Lions against the West Indians in 2009.

He was helped by some first-morning juice in the pitch but some of Hampshire's troubles were of their own making as the first six wickets fell for just 57 inside 90 minutes.

Jimmy Adams smashed a loose delivery from Keith Barker to point and, although fellow opener Liam Dawson survived the early skirmishing, he was fourth out for 25, shouldering arms in a lively stint by Rikki Clarke.

By then Woakes was beginning to make inroads with two wickets in four balls, late movement accounted for both Michael Carberry and Neil McKenzie, who was working to leg when given out lbw.

James Vince then hooked to fine leg before he had scored to give Woakes 3-15 from his first 10-over spell.

Even when he was rested from the attack, he remained in the forefront of the action, holding a straightforward chance when Michael Bates guided a ball from Boyd Rankin to gully.

Warwickshire were held up by Ervine and Mascarenhas in a partnership of 64 in 17 overs before the return of Woakes after lunch.

His third ball swung in to bowl Ervine as the all-rounder played defensively and, in his next over, Mascarenhas was well caught by Clarke, diving to his right at second slip.

Chris Wood made a useful 18 until Woakes completed a second spell of 4-5 by taking the last two wickets in four balls.

That earned maximum bowling points for the Bears, who went into this round of fixtures just 17 adrift of leaders Durham.