Sam Hain scores yet more runs that don't get you noticed

Sam Hain passed fifty for the third time in five innings this season as Warwickshire continued to dominate Hampshire in the LV= Insurance County Championship.

Hain began the season with centuries against Kent and Somerset and returned to form after a quiet match against Surrey with a faultless 85. Hong Kong-born, Australian-raised Hain captained England Lions in Sri Lanka during the winter, but a hamstring injury scuppered his chance to train with the Test squad in the UAE before the tour to Pakistan. He instead busied himself at the Big Bash.

A call-up for the Ashes is unlikely, despite his form, with just Josh Bohannon ahead of him in the Division One scoring charts this season. He has 382 runs at an average of 95.5.

Hampshire had found hope with three wickets in a truncated morning session to fashion a collapse from 83 without loss to 95 for 3, but half-centuries for Alex Davies, Ed Barnard, and Michael Burgess accompanied Hain. Barnard, in particular, ground the hosts down to end the day on a stylish unbeaten 91.

Warwickshire on 364 for five, hold a lead of 135 - although forecast rain on Saturday may thwart their chances of a victory that, if gained, would represent a significant recovery after their defeat against Surrey at Edgbaston last week.

Hain's stock has been rising for several years, having burst onto the scene with a double-century in his debut season in 2015 - where he averaged over 50. He was the third-leading run-scorer in Division One last year, with 1137, and since the start of the 2019 no one has scored more runs in the Championship (and Bob Willis Trophy) than Hain.

Against Hampshire's Keith Barker-less attack, he found a perfect adagio tempo where he carefully went about his work, having arrived at the crease in the middle of a top-order hiccup.

Rob Yates and Alex Davies had negotiated the evening session of the first day flawlessly to compile 82 runs but were separated within three legal deliveries of the morning when Yates lobbed a caught and bowled back at Kyle Abbott. Davies reached his 44th first-class fifty with a slap through the covers, but perished three balls later when Mohammad Abbas nipped one back into his pads.

Only seven overs were possible before lunch but Will Rhodes becoming the third victim - leg before to Abbott.

Hain settled things after lunch. For large periods you wouldn't notice him, and then he'd force your attention with an impeccably timed shot. His cover drive to take him to a 110-ball fifty was the undoubted highlight.

Mousley stuck with him for just over an hour and a half in a 69-run stand before he was lbw, swinging across the line to Ian Holland. Holland also produced a rare misjudgement from Hain to be caught behind - a decision which appeared to disappoint the batter.

Barnard had put on 86 with Hain, as Warwickshire strode into a first-innings lead and to a batting point, and reached his maiden half-century for the county after his winter move from Worcestershire.