Smith and Chilton revive Lancashire

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Mark Chilton, above, well supported by Tom Smith, was central to Lancashire's second-innings resistance against Hampshire

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Diligent batting by Tom Smith and Mark Chilton dug Lancashire out of trouble in their LV= County Championship match with Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

Lancashire, the only unbeaten team in the championship, started their second innings 86 in arrears and facing a grim battle for survival.

Their plight worsened in the fourth over when left-arm quick James Tomlinson found a gap in the defences of opener Paul Horton and bowled him, leaving Lancashire eight for one.

But Smith and Chilton came together in a gritty unbroken stand of 98 for the second wicket to halt Hampshire's charge.

Smith ended the third day 60 not out, the sixth time he has passed 50 in first-class cricket, while Chilton, no less vigilant, was unbeaten on 32.

At the close Lancashire were 106 for one from 52 overs, a precarious lead of 20 due to Smith and Chilton’s repair job.

Hampshire were held up in the first instance by the effects of overnight rain which wiped 16 overs from the day's allocation.

They resumed four runs ahead of Lancashire’s first-innings total on 287 for six and were in no mood to let the visitors back into the game.

Lancashire captain Glen Chapple did remove debutant Michael Bates and David Balcombe, but former team-mate and current Hampshire captain Dominic Cork engineered a spirited tailend resistance.

Tomlinson helped Cork put on 48 for the ninth wicket before Gary Keedy dismissed the former and Danny Briggs.

Cork was left unbeaten with 54 from 79 balls, helping Hampshire build an impressive first-innings lead of 86.

Chapple took 4-68 and Keedy 4-56 as Hampshire were eventually all out for 369.

The early loss of Horton caused more problems for Lancashire but Smith and Chilton spent the next 48 overs making sure there were no further successes for Hampshire.

Smith's innings has so far occupied 155 balls and Chilton's 147; the value to Lancashire in the circumstances was immense.