Hain hundred helps Bears draw with Hampshire

Sam Hain's hundred was his fourth against Hampshire - more than he has hit against any other county

Vitality County Championship Division One, Edgbaston (day three)

Hampshire 298: Middleton 74, Hannon-Dalby 3-36, Barnard 3-61, Miles 3-71 & 453-6 dec: Vince 166*, Dawson 120, Middleton 58; Hannon-Dalby 3-65

Warwickshire 254: Bethell 69, Mousley 57, Barker 6-74, Abbott 3-74 & 321-9: Hain 111*, Burgess 79; Fuller 3-55, Abbott 2-55, Barker 2-71

Warwickshire (12 pts) drew with Hampshire (12 pts)

Match scorecard

Warwickshire's last pair Sam Hain and Olly Hannon-Dalby batted out the final five overs as the Bears escaped with a draw against Hampshire.

Having resumed on 40-1, it looked as if the hosts were heading for a dismal defeat when they slumped to 123-6.

Hampshire, who had beaten champions Surrey by an innings in their previous County Championship game in May, appeared to be homing in on a second straight victory.

But centurion Hain, with his first hundred of the summer, shared a 179-run seventh-wicket stand with wicket-keeper Michael Burgess.

And, although Burgess went for 79, to start a late flurry of three wickets, Hain found a reliable partner in last man Hannon-Dalby.

Hain, who had earlier completed his 50th first-class fifty for Warwickshire before turning it into his 17th hundred for the county, finished unbeaten on 111 after surviving a painful late blow on his elbow from James Fuller - on only his third start of the summer.

Hannon-Dalby lasted 11 balls to register the 60th not out of his first-class career.

It was all Hampshire earlier as only first-innings half-centurion Dan Mousley (37) and nighwatchman Danny Briggs (25) made any worthwhile contributions.

Bears old boy Keith Barker and Kyle Abbott each took two wickets - and it looked an inevitable outcome.

But the hosts had more about them than that - and for almost four hours Hain and Burgess looked untroubled.

Then spinner Felix Organ got one to turn and bounce to have Burgess snapped up by Nick Gubbins at silly point. And just 14 balls later, Hampshire struck again after another James Vince bowling change, bringing back Fuller for Barker.

England all-rounder Chris Woakes, who made just six in the first innings, again went cheaply, as he was bowled by Fuller, who did the same four overs later to Craig Miles - and suddenly there was a real hope that Hampshire might snatch victory after all.

But Hain and Hannon-Dalby saw it through to earn the still winless Bears their sixth draw in eight games - and keep them in seventh, 17 points clear of their Midlands neighbours, also winless Worcestershire, in the first of the two relegation places.

Warwickshire now head for Taunton this Sunday to face Somerset, when Hants, who move up to fifth, host bottom club Kent.

Warwickshire coach Mark Robinson told BBC Radio CWR:

"There is some relief to have come out of the game with a draw. We probably feel we deserved a draw but, at times, we have been a bit careless and probably shouldn't have been in that position.

"Batting on the last day is never easy and Hainy showed great concentration. That partnership with Burgess, from six wickets down after lunch, got us close to safe with 12 overs to do but we all know in this game, there is often a late twist.

"You've got to give credit to Hampshire, they kept running in and Fuller's spell at the end was aggressive and hostile on a relatively docile wicket. It was a very nerve-racking finish.

"All the things that you want a Warwickshire team to do, those standards and that togetherness enables you to pull off the sort of fightback we showed. Not in a perfect way, but good enough to earn an honourable draw."

Hampshire fast bowler James Fuller told BBC Radio Solent:

"We got so close - as close as it gets really. Fair play to Hain and Burgess. They batted so well for 300 balls and that session got really hard as the ball got old and the sun was bearing down. It was quality batting from those two.

"We never gave up and kept coming in hard but they repelled us for so long. Then there was still a sniff for us at the end - what a great game of cricket.

"With 10 overs to go you just sort of empty the tank as a bowler and that's what I was feeling. I was in great rhythm and with everyone encouraging you that gives you so much energy. It's the last rip of the day and you give it everything you've got.

"We were ahead of the game but, as we saw yesterday with Daws and Vince, if two guys get together in their own bubble they can make it very hard for the bowlers. Hain and Burgess did that. They were in it for the long haul."