County Championship: Sam Hain's second century in match helps Bears draw with Hants

Sam Hain become the first Warwickshire player since Ian Bell in 2004 to score a century in both innings of an away match

Sam Hain struck his second century of the match as Warwickshire batted out the final day to escape with a draw against Hampshire.

Set 404 to win, the Bears were 52-5, then eight wickets down with still 27.3 overs left, before finishing on 347-8.

Hain, who followed his first-innings ton with 104, kept them in the game in a 120-run stand with Ben Mike (72).

After both fell Hampshire looked strong favourites, but skipper Jeetan Patel (70 not out) guided his side to safety.

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Patel put on 112 for the eighth wicket with Henry Brookes (36 not out) as the home side, now without a victory in five matches, searched desperately for the final two wickets without success.

Their title hopes have faded badly since the end of May, with Somerset and Essex looking set for a two-way battle to lift the trophy.

Hampshire will wonder how they failed to see off Warwickshire, who resumed on 31-3, were five wickets down midway through the final morning and then had only two remaining with nearly an entire session to survive.

Hain and Mike, who passed fifty for the first time in first-class cricket, were key in helping them survive the last day - although both fell in the space of three overs to hand momentum back to the home team.

Felix Organ produced arguably the ball of the match to dismiss Hain, clean bowling the 26-year-old behind his legs with a vicious, turning delivery.

South African seamer Kyle Abbott finished with figures of 5-78, having bowled Rob Yates and Adam Hose at the start of play, but the efforts of both bowlers were ultimately in vain.

Hampshire captain Sam Northeast told BBC Solent:

"It was really tough. The guys put in so much effort over the four days and we created enough chances but we didn't quite take them.

"There are still a lot of positives to take out of it, especially after two straight defeats. Ian Holland and Aneurin Donald batted well, Felix Organ on his debut showed a lot of guts and determination and Kyle Abbott is bowling unbelievably at the moment.

"I kept going back to the fast bowlers and trying to ask for another effort and to burgle a few more overs out of Kyle and Fidel Edwards. They have run in all day.

"But I'm sure they will be fine for Saturday. This is where they need a little love and a couple of massages come in. The guys do the work in the winter for days like this."

Warwickshire first-team coach Jim Troughton told BBC WM:

"I didn't really watch much of the last eight overs. It isn't often you feel this ecstatic about a draw. We have to remember we drew and didn't win, but those five points could be valuable at the end of the season.

"Kyle Abbott is one of the best county bowlers on the circuit. Those three wickets he got at the end on Monday night put us on the back foot and then the ones this morning made it look like the game could be over by lunch.

"But we regrouped and Ben Mike, a 19-year-old, and Sam Hain batted through that middle session. We lost those two just after tea and you think I'd still be incredibly proud but Jeets and Brooksy were incredible.

"We've seen Sam the Man in this game. He wore one off a Fidel Edwards bouncer and, from that moment in the first innings you saw a change in him that saw him stop fighting himself but fight the opposition. To get two hundreds against this attack just shows what he is capable of. Hopefully he grows from this and realises he is among the best top order batters in the country."