Hampshire Suffer First Defeat of the Season

Five wickets from spinner Simon Kerrigan (5-59) on the final day condemned Hampshire to their first defeat of the season as Lancashire won the Specsavers County Championship match by an innings and 94 runs at Emirates Old Trafford.

James Vince (47), Will Smith (45) and Adam Wheater (47) were dismissed just short of their fifties as Hants looked to bat out the final day to salvage a draw from the match.

However, England Test bowler Jimmy Anderson (3-29) impressed alongside Kerrigan as Lancashire

With play starting on time despite the overnight rain, Vince and Smith faced a tough examination early on from James Anderson and Kyle Jarvis and it was England hopeful Vince who blinked first.

In truth it was a strange dismissal. Vince, having driven the previous ball beautifully back past the bowler for four, looked to play a similar shot from Anderson's next full pitched delivery but seemed to check himself and instead popped the ball up to Wagner at short cover for 47.

Dawson joined Smith at the crease where the new challenge came from a rejuvenated Simon Kerrigan who gave little away before forcing Dawson to edge a regulation catch to Steven Croft at slip for 18 and By the time the players departed for lunch the visitors had been reduced to 151-4.

Adam Wheater (45) continued his impressive start to the season after lunch, but it was an afternoon session which was dominated by Kerrigan, who found found his rhythm to devastating effect, picking up five wickets to move Lancashire to the top of the Division. 

Hants will be hoping for an improved performance when they welcome Nottinghamshire to the The Ageas Bowl for their next Specsavers County Championship fixture, starting on Sunday 22 May.