County Championship: Four Hampshire batters hit fifties against Lancashire

Nathan Lyon got through 32 overs on day one

Tom Prest scored an impeccable 85 as Hampshire edged day one of their County Championship game with Lancashire at the Utilita Bowl.

The former England Under-19 captain was one of four Hampshire players to make a half-century, with Nick Gubbins, James Vince and Liam Dawson also reaching the milestone as the hosts made 305-6

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon picked up his first two wickets for Lancashire during a mammoth 32-over day which yielded 2-97.

Hampshire skipper Vince won the toss and chose to bat first, giving debutant Ali Orr an immediate chance to impress the home supporters after his winter move from Sussex.

His collaboration with new opening partner Fletcha Middleton may need some work after the latter was run out in the ninth over by a George Balderson direct hit following a miscommunication.

Orr departed four overs later for 10 when he was caught behind off Tom Bailey, but from there Hampshire found more fluency and built partnerships in overcast conditions.

Vince, who last season became Hampshire's first batter to 1,000 first-class runs since 2016, raced to 56 before he became Lyon's first victim when he tamely turned a shot to leg-slip.

Lyon, who had been due to play for Hampshire in 2020 before Covid prevented him from arriving, also snared Gubbins soon after he had brought up his 50, the 36-year-old luring the batter into a drive which he edged behind.

Lyon's battle with Prest then produced the most intriguing passage of the day, but the veteran could not dislodge the 21-year-old and he looked on course for a century only to glove Luke Wells to slip.

Ben Brown fell soon after when Will Williams secured an edge to third slip with the second new ball, but Dawson added his name to the list of fifty-makers before finishing unbeaten 61 - having been dropped on 51.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network.