Kendall leads Hampshire with defiant century

A century from captain Will Kendall ensured Hampshire recovered from a middle-order crash in their first innings and set up an interesting final day in their non first-class meeting with Loughborough UCCE at the Rose Bowl.

Kendall, entering the fray at number 8 after his side had slipped from a comfortable 120-2 to 145-6 and someway short of the follow-on, struck a quick-fire 100 not out (139 balls, 14 fours and two sixes) to rescue the situation and ease the home side to 283 before he allowed Loughborough an 88 run lead.

He and wicket-keeper Iain Brunnschweiler shared a 104 run partnership, of which the latter added just 22 from a mammoth 127 deliveries, as he allowed his captain to take control.

This followed a half-century from Derek Kenway (57) and 35 from the black-eyed Jason Laney before left-arm spinner Monty Panesar and skipper Mark Powell undermined the innings with a brace of wickets apiece.

Panesar, a former England Under 19 player on Northamptonshire's staff bowled virtually unchanged for his impressive 2-81 from 32 overs. Powell closed with 2-33.

Loughborough, looking to add to their first innings advantage and set Hampshire a target on the sometimes uneven surface lost four wickets on their way to their close of play tally of 81.

First innings centurion Powell led from the front once more with an attacking 27, before James Hamblin removed him and Rob White in successive balls with the total at 75. And when James Tomlinson pegged back his county team-mate James Adams' off stump with the final ball of the day, it closed an entertaining day in the sunshine with Loughborough 169 ahead going into the final day.