Carberry ton boosts Hampshire

Michael Carberry hit his second ton this season © Getty Images

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Michael Carberry scored his second century of the season against relegated Worcestershire to give title hopefuls Hampshire a solid start to their LV County Championship Division One match at Kidderminster.

The 26-year-old opener hit 127 and figured in century partnerships with Michael Brown and James Adams and their combined efforts helped hoist the visitors to 349 for five off 104 overs by the close.

Gareth Batty, acting as captain in place of Vikram Solanki who is involved in England's preparations for the ICC World Twenty20, failed to improve Worcestershire's fortunes at the toss with Shane Warne calling correctly on his return after a 12-day absence due to a muscle tear that was originally thought to be a broken rib.

Worcestershire have won only three out of 13 tosses this season and soon began to suffer when Hampshire chose to bat in glorious sunshine on a run-friendly wicket.

Indeed, the outcome was similar to when Warne's men crushed Worcestershire by 285 runs at Southampton with Carberry and Brown producing another impressive partnership.

In last month's encounter they put on 133 - Hants' best opening stand of the season - and this time they stacked up 111 in 36 overs.

Opener Michael Brown was in commanding form with the bat

Both were in commanding form against an attack lacking their leading wicket-taker, paceman Kabir Ali, because of a niggling knee problem.

Carberry had a scare on 49 when Worcestershire made a loud shout for a catch by Ben Smith at short leg off spinner Batty.

But their appeals were turned down after a consultation between umpires Nigel Cowley and John Holder.

Left-hander Carberry, who scored 116 in the game at Southampton, responded by completing his half-century with eight fours off 105 balls.

The partnership finally ended when Brown, on 47, was run out by a smart direct throw from cover by Daryl Mitchell.

His departure failed to stem the tide with Adams joining the run feast during which Carberry completed his third championship century of the campaign with 17 fours off 202 deliveries.

The second-wicket stand yielded 142 in 37 overs before Adams produced a leading edge off paceman Roger Sillence and was caught by Abdul Razzaq running in at mid-off for 80, which contained 12 fours off 119 balls.

It was Hampshire’s highest partnership for any wicket so far this season.

The next stand, however, was far less productive with John Crawley being run out for eight following neat fielding between Smith at slip and wicket-keeper Steve Davies.

Carberry eventually fell to a low diving catch by Davies off Sillence after stroking 20 fours off 248 deliveries.

Paceman Mitchell made further inroads for battling Worcestershire by removing Nic Pothas in the 90th over, by which time the visitors had moved on to 300.