Muchall hundred makes good use of chance

Hampshire 119 for 3 (Carberry 57*) trail Durham 421 (Muchall 145, Arshad 60, Dawson 3-70) by 302 runs
Scorecard

Durham batsman Gordon Muchall completed a match-changing century before Hampshire stuttered in their response on the second day at the Ageas Bowl.

Muchall scored a measured 14th career first-class century before the Durham attack restricted the hosts to 119 for 3 at the close.

On a grim and grey day at the Ageas Bowl, Muchall continued where he left off the previous evening, frustrating Hampshire with his patient brand of cricket.

Muchall had rebuilt Durham's innings on the opening day, with Michael Richardson, after they had slumped to 91 for 4 at lunch.

And the 32-year-old batsman went past his second ton of the season in 229 balls in a six-hour marathon at the crease.

He and Usman Arshad strode past a third batting point on their way to a 128-run stand for the seventh wicket.

Arshad scored his first fifty since September 2013 - a 92-ball effort before he edged Gareth Berg to James Vince at first slip for 60.

Australian John Hastings added some impetus by slapping Liam Dawson over the ropes for a maximum, but fell for 22 sweeping across the line to give leg spinner Mason Crane his maiden first-class wicket.

Dawson, in his 100th first-class match, collected his 150th wicket in the format when he finally managed to find a way to see off Muchall, who departed for a match-changing 145 before Graham Onions slogged to Jackson Bird - Durham bowled out for 421, their highest total of the season.

Chris Rushworth bagged his 56th County Championship wicket of the season as Hampshire's reply started with a stutter as he pinned Jimmy Adams, who stepped down from captaincy this week to concentrate on his batting.

Liam Dawson then mistimed a pull shot to Arshad at mid-off off Hastings after putting on 30 with Michael Carberry.

James Vince looked in good touch with a couple of trademarked cover drives but edged Ryan Pringle to Paul Collingwood at first slip as he looked set on 19.

Carberry, who returned to the top of the order after a stint at No 3, scored his sixth half century of the season - although he is still yet to reach three figures - brought up in 93 balls.

The former England Test batsman sweetly timed a hook shot for a six to reach 57 when the rain stopped play just after 5pm, with Will Smith ably reaching 27.