A patient half-century from Michael Carberry (57) steered Hampshire safely to an 11 point draw on day four of the LV= County Championship match against top-of-the-table Middlesex at the Utilita Bowl.

Contributions from skipper Jimmy Adams (37) and James Vince (32) also helped the hosts successfully navigate the final day in comfortable fashion, whilst also enjoying more practice time in the middle.

Hampshire began the day 4-0 with a lead of 55 runs, and openers Adams and Liam Dawson (19) looked solid before the latter was dismissed just under an hour into the morning session.

Carberry joined Adams at the crease and both patiently deferred from any dangerous stroke-making to slowly accumulate runs and enjoy valuable time at the crease.

The home-side reached lunch with Dawson the only wicket to fall, as both left-handers saw Hants to 70-1 at the interval.

After the break, Adams was unlucky to depart as a sharp, rising delivery from Harris saw him caught-behind. Despite the loss, Carberry continued to stay watchful whilst still punishing any loose deliveries that were presented.

The 34-year-old looked in good touch on the way to his second fifty of the fixture, and although the left-hander fell shortly after the landmark, Hampshire never really looked to be losing their control of proceedings.

Vice-captain James Vince also looked in good-touch and several elegant drives saw him continue to add to his total, and he was well supported by Will Smith (15*) who carried on from his impressive first innings, to further the home-side’s lead.

Vince was dismissed thanks to a superb one-handed catch from James Franklin at first-slip but the contest, which was already heading to a draw long before his wicket, was brought to a close when the two sides shook hands at 16:50 with a draw the only possible result.

Words: Will Brewster