Warwickshire draw with Hampshire to hand title to Lancashire

Varun Chopra and Tim Ambrose see a chance go begging for Warwickshire

Warwickshire had to settle for second place in the Championship as they could only draw with relegated Hampshire.

Going into the final day as favourites to lift their first title since 2004, Warwickshire were pipped by Lancashire, who beat Somerset by eight wickets.

Resuming on 43-3, Neil McKenzie (115 no) and Michael Carberry (111) helped Hampshire turn around a 126-run deficit at the start of play to close on 327-7.

Chris Metters (5-115) took the second five-wicket haul of his career.

Warwickshire began the day very much in the driving seat but their main obstacle became McKenzie and Carberry.

The pair, who combined in a record-breaking partnership of 523 against Yorkshire last month, shared a stand of 182 for the fourth wicket.

Carberry's 168-ball innings was finally ended when he was trapped lbw by Chris Woakes, while James Vince hit a six and five fours in making 33.

Sean Ervine joined McKenzie to frustrate Warwickshire and the latter moved to his third Championship hundred of the season after tea from 211 balls.

Metters removed Ervine and Michael Bates in successive balls to reduce the hosts from 316-5 to 316-7, but it was too little too late and the captains shook hands on a draw with Hampshire 158 runs ahead.

POST-MATCH SUMMARY

Warwickshire captain Jim Troughton:

"If you had told us at the start of the season we would win nine games, you would think that would be enough to win the title. But fair play to Lancashire."

BBC WM's Mike Taylor:

"It was quickly evident the pitch was flat on the final day and it could be argued that the Bears could have attacked more.

"But it has been a fine season from a side not tipped to take the title.

"Failure to win the title, though, is going to hurt Warwickshire for a little while yet."