Hampshire Secure Division One Status After Final Day Thriller

Hampshire secured their Division One status for the 2018 season after gaining a draw on a gripping final day of their County Championship tie with Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

James Vince, Liam Dawson, Ian Holland, Gareth Berg and Kyle Abbott batted for most of the afternoon and evening sessions to guide their side to 195-7 at the close after a display of grit and determination with the bat.

After a delayed start due to a wet outfield, Sean Ervine and Tom Alsop made a watchful yet positive start to proceedings, punishing any loose deliveries with intent, moving the target under 200 runs.

The left-handed duo negotiated conditions well, bringing up the 50 partnership but Ervine (26) fell the very next ball, feathering behind a fantastic delivery from Sidebottom.

Two further wickets then fell in quick succession at the hands of Jeetan Patel (2-30) as the visitors made a difficult start to the afternoon session at 72-4.

Vince and Dawson steadied the ship with an extremely watchful and stubborn partnership, moving their side into three figures as the pair looked to rebuild.

The Hampshire duo dug deep after the loss of early wickets, putting on an unbroken stand of 41 runs for the fifth wicket in 28.5 overs, moving their side onto 113-4 at the tea break.

Dawson’s 94-ball resistance came to an end ten balls into the evening session, with the all-rounder well-caught by Tim Ambrose behind the stumps.

Vince remained resolute, with his stay at the crease moving beyond two hours, and the visitors continued to see out the remaining overs with confidence.

Holland was just as watchful, as the pair negotiated the Warwickshire attack despite the home side's bowling attack searching for a breakthrough.

The partnership was eventually broken in the 67^th over of the innings, when Sidebottom and Ambrose again combined to dismiss Vince (30) who occupied the crease for just short of three hours to leave the visitors on 124-6.

Holland and Berg then progressed Hampshire beyond 150 and the pair continued to show grit and determination throughout the innings, dealing with no matter what was thrown at them.

Warwickshire opted to take the new ball with just eight overs remaining in the final session of the season, with Hampshire’s hopes of survival going down to the last 48 deliveries of the campaign.

Berg (34) then crunched two quickfire boundaries to bring up the fifty partnership alongside Holland, but was then bowled by Hannon-Dalby (2-33) with 14 deliveries remaining in the game.

However, Holland and Abbott successfully saw out the final deliveries to secure the draw and with it, Hampshire’s Division One status.