County Championship: James Vince helps Hampshire revive title hopes against Lancashire

Hampshire skipper James Vince has already lifted one trophy this season with Southern Brave in The Hundred

Hampshire and Lancashire remain in the Championship title picture despite 14 wickets falling on day two at Aigburth.

Mohammad Abbas took 5-48 and Keith Barker 4-51 as the Red Rose county were bowled out for 141, a two-run deficit.

Hampshire struggled to 24-4 and were 78-5 before Vince's 69 helped them to 158-7 at stumps and a lead of 160, despite Tom Bailey claiming 5-19.

Whichever team wins the game could become champions providing Warwickshire are not victorious against Somerset.

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The highest number of points Hampshire or Lancashire could take from the game is 19 as neither achieved any for batting in the first innings.

A Hampshire victory would give them a total of 77.5, or 73.5 for Lancashire if they win, but Warwickshire can potentially reach 78 if they defeat Somerset at Edgbaston and earn 23 from the match.

Early wickets cost Lancashire

Lancashire resumed on 25-3, but lost Josh Bohannan and nightwatchman Jack Blatherwick to excellent slip catches with only two runs added.

Their decline continued to 47-7 but Luke Wood and Steven Croft added 46 before Wood tried to square cut a ball from Brad Wheal and was caught behind for 37.

Croft survived until after lunch before perishing for 40 when he top edged a ball from Abbas to mid-off and the Pakistani ended the innings when Bailey chipped a catch to mid-wicket.

Hampshire lost Ian Holland for a duck to the third ball of their second innings as Bailey took three wickets with the new ball and Nick Gubbins was bowled by George Balderson.

Lancashire seemed well on top following Tom Bailey's burst with the new ball

Vince then put on 54 with Joe Weatherley, who played on to Bailey on 33 as he tried to take his bat out of the way.

Liam Dawson helped Vince to his 50, which he brought up from 67 balls by dispatching a full toss by Matt Parkinson through the covers, and in doing so also passed 800 Championship runs for the season.

There were just three and a half overs remaining when Vince was adjudged leg-before when he pushed forward defensively to Parkinson, ending a stand of 80 with Dawson, who was then bowled by Bailey.

Felix Organ and Wheal survived 15 balls to stumps. But, however many more runs Hampshire add on day three, Lancashire will have to make the highest score of the game in the fourth innings to win it.

Lancashire fast bowler Tom Bailey:

"Getting those two wickets at the end was crucial for us. They are two key players for Hampshire and to see them walk off the pitch was good. I've not had a five-for for two years so it was nice.

"It's a very entertaining game to play in. You can't switch off for a minute. It's been a nice pitch to bowl on, tailor made for seamers, although it does feel like it's flattening out.

"You can see why Mohammad Abbas was the number one bowler in the world - he didn't miss his length and was so good with that wobble seam."

Hampshire and England spinner Liam Dawson:

"It was poor cricket from us at the end - we'd worked so hard to get that close to being five down at the end of the day and we lost two wickets in the space of a couple of overs. It was a real shame - especially from two experienced players.

"But we have 160 on the board and whatever we're going to get is a bonus. From then on it will be a shootout between who wants it the most. There is no spin at the minute but we're have to see how that pans out.

"It's very easy to say you're concentrating on the game here but you have one eye on the game at Edgbaston. Lancashire and us have to do our job here and try to win. If we do that and Warwickshire win fair play to them - the best team will have won."