Vince hundred sets up draw

Hampshire 480 v Sussex 438
Scorecard

Sussex-born James Vince hit 157 against the county of his birth but his Hampshire side looked headed for a high-scoring draw in their south-coast derby at the Rose Bowl.

The talented 20-year-old right-hander, who was born in Cuckfield but raised in Wiltshire, embarked on a 283-ball vigil to enable Hampshire to gain a first-innings lead of 42 with a day remaining. In reply to Sussex's first-innings total of 438 all out, Hampshire made 480 just before the close, leaving little room for manoeuvre on the final day and with the state of the pitch as good as ever.

Hampshire began at 145 for 3 and still in slight danger of being forced to follow on if they lost early wickets. That never looked like being the case, however, as fourth-wicket pair Vince and Johann Myburgh dug in with a significant stand of 178 in 57 overs.

They took the score to 288 before Sussex made their first breakthrough after lunch when Myburgh was caught behind off Luke Wright after hitting 11 fours in his bright 80, his highest score for Hampshire.

Vince reached his century with his 16th four and added more important runs with Nic Pothas and then Sean Ervine. Tiring Sussex might have felt they had broken the back of the Hampshire resistance at 384 for 6, but then Vince was joined by his captain, Dominic Cork, in a rapid stand of 77.

Vince went on to hit 22 fours and a six in his 283-ball innings before he was snapped up by James Anyon off Pakistani pace bowler Naved Arif. Cork raced to his half-century off 87 balls, hitting two sixes along the way, before he was bowled by the same bowler who quickly accounted for Friedel de Wet at 479.

Monty Panesar wrapped up the Hampshire innings by having David Griffiths caught behind in the 144th over. Arif was the most successful of the Sussex bowlers with 4 for 70 and there were two expensive wickets for Panesar and Anyon.

Wicketkeeper Andy Hodd finished with six catches but the placid wicket made life as hard for the Sussex bowlers as it had done for Hampshire's on the first two days of the match. Vince's outstanding innings was all the more creditable because he had struggled for runs over the first three matches of the season.