Warwickshire v Hampshire: Dom Sibley carries bat before worried visitors collapse

Fidel Edwards claimed his second five-wicket haul in three games to help bowl out Warwickshire for 188

Hampshire's prospects of being relegated to Division Two of the County Championship increased significantly as they collapsed against already relegated Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

On a day when rivals Somerset edged into a winning position against also threatened Middlesex, Hampshire were bowled out for 116 - a deficit of 72.

That was after earlier allowing their hosts to make 188, having been 28-5.

Bears opening batsman Dom Sibley carried his bat, making 92 not out.

Just eight balls were possible in the home side's second innings before bad light ended play for the day with no addition to the Bears' 72-run lead.

After the loss of an entire first day's play, South African Kyle Abbott quickly made up for lost time.

Spurred on by Liam Banks' early run-out, Abbott removed both home captain Jonathan Trott and his predecessor as skipper, Ian Bell, for ducks.

Barbados fast bowler Fidel Edwards then did the most damage, taking 5-49, including the final two victims in the space of five deliveries.

Sibley, who became the first Bears batsman to carry his bat since Ian Westwood against Lancashire in 2010, shared key stands of 80 for the sixth wicket with Alex Thomson (26) and 39 for the eighth wicket with Chris Wright (26).

When Hampshire batted, it did not look any easier, Ryan Sidebottom removing both openers as the visitors slumped to 13-3.

George Bailey's 46-ball half-century stemmed the tide before he was eighth out, becoming one of four victims for Olly Hannon-Dalby on 55.

Hampshire, reprieved from relegation last season because of Durham's demotion, began the game needing 12 points to secure their Division One status.

Following Somerset's collection of only one of a possible batting points at Taunton, that target was reduced to eight.

But Hampshire claimed just three bowling points and, following their failure to pick up a single batting point, they now look like they may have to avoid defeat at Edgbaston and get the minimum extra five points from a draw to stay up.

Warwickshire batsman Dominic Sibley told BBC WM:

"It was nice to get some runs and contribute. The ball was doing a little bit early on and you've just got to hope than a ball didn't come along with your name on it.

"Luckily, I didn't get one of those jaffas and managed to grind out some runs. It was frustrating to get so close to 100 but not get there.

"I've waited a while for a championship century now but I would have taken 92 at the start of the day.

"Then the guys came out and bowled really well. Olly Hannon-Dalby bowled superbly in 11 or 12 overs on the bounce and hit some good areas and was really tough to play."

Hampshire first-team coach Craig White told BBC Radio Solent:

"It's tough watching sometimes when we play like that. We have got a huge amount of work to do.

"Now we have to come out and show our character. We've got to bowl them out again and then try to chase them down on Thursday.

"With two days to go it looks like there will be a result so we have got to dig deep and we'll see what we are made of.

"If we deserve to stay up we'll do it. If we don't then we've only got ourselves to blame. We're in a tricky situation with a lot to do but we've got guys who can dig us out of it."