Dawson leads Hampshire's safety battle

Hampshire 145 for 3 v Sussex 3438
Scorecard

Young opening batsman Liam Dawson continued his fine early-season form in the County Championship with an important half-century for Hampshire against Sussex at the Rose Bowl. Dawson, playing only due to the absence of experienced pair Michael Carberry and Michael Lumb, hit his fifth 50-plus score as his team began the daunting chase of Sussex's first-innings total of 438.

At stumps on day two, 21-year-old Dawson's 60 had helped the hosts to 145 for 3 to trail Sussex by 293 runs. Sussex resumed this morning at 321 for 3 but managed only 117 more runs for their final seven wickets, three of which fell in the morning session to Hampshire pace bowler David Griffiths.

Griffiths removed Ben Brown (23) in his first over and then got rid of danger man Murray Goodwin for 43 three overs later. Griffiths struck again with the score on 342 when Luke Wright (9) edged to the wicketkeeper. Griffiths' three scalps in five overs was impressive on a wicket that was still playing as well as it had done on the first day.

Hampshire were eventually held up when Andy Hodd and Naved Arif added 46 for the seventh wicket. Spinner Danny Briggs broke the stand when he bowled Hodd for 31 and, four runs later, Arif guided Friedel de Wet to Dominic Cork to end his effort on 18.

Naved ul-Hasan struck three sixes against Briggs in a breezy 34 before Cork finished off the resistance, getting a leg-before verdict against the Pakistani and then giving Nic Pothas his third catch of the innings behind the stumps when James Anyon (15) touched a rising delivery. Griffiths finished with figures of 3 for 73 while there were two wickets apiece for Cork, Briggs and De Wet.

Hampshire made a strong start to their reply with Dawson and Jimmy Adams putting on a 98-run opening partnership before Anyon struck with two quick wickets. Adams was the first to go, caught behind for a watchful 24, but Dawson's proved to be an important wicket for Sussex.

Dawson had been in superb form, striking eight fours in his 83-ball 60 before he went the same way, caught behind, to leave Hampshire on 103 for 2. Monty Panesar plunged Hampshire into further trouble when he trapped Neil McKenzie lbw for six in the 36th over, but Johann Myburgh and James Vince took Hampshire safely through to stumps unbeaten on 18 and 15 respectively.