Hampshire come agonisingly close

Hampshire moved off the bottom of the County Championship LV Division One table with a pulsating draw against title hopefuls Lancashire at Old Trafford.

Chris Benham’s determined, but impressive, half-century almost saw his side chase down 225 from 71 overs to gift the visitors what would have been only their second win of the campaign.

But ultimately their target proved just too much on a wearing track as they finished on 215 for seven.

Lancashire were bowled out in the morning session for 155 with Pakistan leg-spinner Imran Tahir claiming second innings figures of seven for 66 from 30.2 overs.

The 29-year-old completed match figures of 12 wickets for 189 runs from 69.4 overs to make sure he completed the best County Championship figures by a Hampshire debutant.

Tahir removed Luke Sutton, Dominic Cork and finally Gary Keedy in the 23rd over of the day. Lancashire only added 35 runs to their overnight lead of 190.

But Glen Chapple took two quick wickets in the half hour before lunch, those of Michael Brown trapped lbw and John Crawley brilliantly caught down the leg side by Sutton, to reduce the score to 17 for two.

Chris Benham gave Hampshire hope of overhauling their target

Cork had Sean Ervine caught behind the over after lunch and Keedy then had Michael Lumb caught on the sweep by Law. At 63 for four Lancashire were rousing favourites.

But then Benham really got to work on a tough track, sharing a fifth-wicket partnership of 83 with Nic Pothas (35 off 74 balls).

With those two together Hampshire were looking favourites, certainly needing 108 from 32 overs with six wickets in hand at tea.

But Keedy had Pothas caught behind and then Mahmood removed Benham for a 139-ball 64, with eleven fours. The 25 year-old hit 89 in the first innings in just his second match of the season.

When he was caught at point by Francois Du Plessis the game swung towards the draw.

Chris Tremlett helped claim nine off one Chapple over, edging a four and grabbing four leg-byes.

But the visitors ultimately decided to hold on for the draw despite needing 46 off nine overs and 33 off six.

Captain Dimitri Mascarenhas was well set, having come in at the fall of the fifth wicket, but he decided not to take on the challenge.

Tremlett hit another four off Chapple but was then run out by Du Plessis for 15.

Mascarenhas (25 not out) and David Balcombe had a late dart with 22 needed off two and 15 off the last but it was too little too late.

Lancashire (11 points) go second and Surrey replace Hampshire (nine points) at the foot.