Ervine stems Hampshire collapse

Sean Ervine notched 93 and captain Jimmy Adams a half-century as Hampshire recovered from a slow start to make a respectable first-innings total on day three of the Division Two clash with Worcestershire at the Ageas Bowl.

The pair provided the cornerstone of Hampshire's 263 - a total that looked unlikely when labouring on 105 for 6 earlier in the day - before Worcestershire made a solid start to their reply.

The visitors, for whom Jack Shantry took four wickets, were on 103 for 1 by the close of play, with skipper Daryl Mitchell and England's Moeen Ali at the crease on 44 and 27 respectively and the contest appearing set for a draw.

Hampshire started Tuesday's action, after a completely washed out second day, on 37 for three having been inserted by Worcestershire on Sunday, which had also seen play reduced by rain.

Two wickets from consecutive balls by Shantry pegged Hampshire back, with Adams (67) caught by Alexei Kervezee. It was another Shantry delivery that subsequently ousted Will Smith for 29, to leave Hampshire on 105 for six and looking in trouble.

The hosts managed to steady the ship, though, through Adam Wheater and Ervine. They were 136 for 6 at lunch and the Wheater-Ervine partnership took them to 198 before the former (35) was caught by Kervezee off the bowling of Gareth Andrew.

In the next over, the eighth wicket fell as Matthew Coles (one) was caught and bowled by Moeen. Shantry took his fourth victim when David Balcombe (23) was caught by Ben Cox, leaving Hampshire on 237 for nine, and Ervine was the final man to go just seven runs shy of his ton, halted by a Kervezee catch off Charlie Morris' delivery.

Worcestershire's response saw Matthew Pardoe removed for 19, but otherwise it was a steady effort as Mitchell and Moeen remained unbeaten at stumps.