Hampshire v Leicestershire: Jimmy Adams hits double ton for hosts

Adams has hit 1,082 runs in 14 Championship matches so far this season

Jimmy Adams hit a double century as Hampshire piled on the runs against Leicestershire on day three at Southampton.

Resuming on 48-0, Hampshire openers Michael Carberry (110) and Adams shared a 253-run first-wicket partnership.

Adams reached three figures in first-class cricket for the first time this season, before being caught by Greg Smith off Atif Sheikh (3-114) for 231.

Hampshire closed on 497-8, a lead of 194 runs going into the final day.

The Division Two promotion-chasing side looked to score at a bristling pace, after only 10 overs were bowled on day two, with Carberry hitting 18 four's in his 196 ball 110, while Adams made 154 of his runs in boundaries.

The impressive innings also saw the 33-year-old pass 1,000 first-class runs for the season, as Leicestershire's bowlers struggled to contain the hosts.

But after the openers, the rest of Hampshire's order could not maintain the high scoring, with the next highest a 30 from Will Smith.

BBC Radio Solent's Kevan James:

"Hampshire did their level best to make up for losing 86 overs yesterday by scoring 449 runs alone on day three.

"Jimmy Adams hit his first Championship hundred of the season and promptly cashed in by making it a double hundred, which was his fifth for the club.

"The wicket is still flat; whether Hampshire have enough time to bowl Leicestershire out on day four is difficult to tell."

BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae:

"The fact the Hampshire run rate never fell below four an over, and ended at approaching five an over, was an indication of how inconsistently Leicestershire bowled, but it was also a demonstration of the lack of depth in their attack.

"Atif Sheikh, a quick but raw left-arm seamer playing only his second first-class match, and his first for the Foxes, found himself bowling against two of the best batsmen in county cricket in Michael Carberry and Jimmy Adams on a pretty good track.

"But how well the two Hampshire openers played, particularly Adams.

"The Hampshire skipper was dropped twice, on 39 and 143, but otherwise hit the ball very hard to all parts, refused to be tied down, and despite the loss of almost the entire day, has put his side into a position to put the Leicestershire batsmen under real pressure on the final day."