Hampshire stumble in pursuit of Worcestershire - and promotion

Hampshire secured three bowling points in pursuit of Sussex at the top of the Second Division by digging out Worcestershire for 247 at New Road.

In a strange innings, which started at better than four-an-over, the home side had seven batsmen with scores between 22 and 35 but none who could lay a proper foundation.

A mixture of swing, seam and spin created general uncertainty once Neil Johnson had opened the door for Hampshire with 3 for 18 in his first seven overs. The former Zimbabwe Test all-rounder ended an opening stand of 60 by Philip Weston and Anurag Singh in the first hour and claimed the biggest prize when Graeme Hick played on for nine.

Worcestershire struggled to cope with occasional low bounce and Hampshire introduced another weapon when Shaun Udal had Vikram Solanki caught at silly point for a rapid 27 including six fours from 31 balls.

Dimitri Mascarenhas bowled David Leatherdale with the last ball before lunch and Udal nibbled away throughout the afternoon to break two useful stands. Andy Bichel was caught at mid-wicket after making 35 out of 47 with Paul Pollard and Steve Rhodes edged to slip after putting on 32 with Chris Liptrot.

The seam attack from the other end accounted for Pollard and Liptrot, the former lbw and the other top-edging to mid-on off James Schofield, who played for Worcestershire's Board XI two years ago.

Hampshire got off to a bad start when Derek Kenway was lbw in Alamgir Sheriyar's first over and Andy Bichel flattened Giles White's off stump. Worse followed with further wickets for Chris Liptrot and Sheriyar as they closed 201 behind at 46 for 4.