County Championship: Hampshire reel from Mitchell double century

Hampshire have not got Daryl Mitchell out in their last nine days of Championship cricket against Worcestershire

Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell completed the second double century of his career to put fellow County Championship Division One strugglers Hampshire on the back foot at New Road.

Resuming on 105 out of his side's overnight total of 228-5, Mitchell carried his bat to finish unbeaten on 206 as his side totalled 478.

Hampshire lost three wickets to close on 86-3, Michael Carberry making 36.

He became only Saeed Ajmal's fourth Championship victim of the season.

After sharing a 44-run stand with Jimmy Adams following Charlie Morris's removal of Sean Terry third ball, Carberry then saw his skipper go for 20, leg before wicket to Joe Leach.

But, after Carberry, dropped by Mitchell at second slip off Leach, was also trapped lbw by Ajmal, James Vince saw the visitors through to the close on 29.

Earlier, despite another rain-shortened morning, Worcestershire topped 400 against their relegation rivals for the second time this season, largely down to Mitchell, but well supported by Leach, who made 59 from 86 balls in a seventh-wicket stand of 123.

Worcestershire missed out on maximum batting points, having only just claimed their fourth of the innings at the end of the 110-over, but Mitchell's marathon effort has nonetheless given his side a winning platform.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes:

"This was a special day for Daryl Mitchell, batting for 140 overs, carrying his bat for a marvellous double century. If anyone deserves all the accolades, he does because he's had a tough season himself.

"He's had some tough times and now, in typical dogged Daryl Mitchell fashion, he has shown all his class. He's found his touch and that's good news for the rest of the season.

"He's gone through some fighting innings and not been particularly comfortable at the crease but he has managed to be effective and score some runs. And, in this game, he has been far more fluent, better organised."

Hampshire coach Dale Benkenstein:

"If anything we can learn also learn from Daryl Mitchell. That's the sort of knock we are dying out for at the moment. We would like to have that because it sets up the whole game and people can bat round him.

"He's getting better and better. He's getting to that age where he really knows his game. He sticks to his game plan.

"This was a pretty chanceless knock really, but you've come to expect this from him. He's done it quite consistently over the last few years."