Battling Hampshire fight back

Nic Pothas' unbeaten half-century kept Hampshire's hopes alive

Hampshire were indebted to Sean Ervine and Nic Pothas for guiding them out of serious trouble at Canterbury after Kent threatened to skittle the visitors in their second innings.

Ervine made 66, and Pothas and Chris Tremlett put on an unbroken 42 for the seventh wicket as Hampshire recovered to 185 for six, for a lead of 183 in the LV County Championship Division One match.

They had earlier allowed Kent to claim a two-run lead in their first innings when they reached 369 all out.

Hampshire were immediately put under pressure by Azhar Mahmood who had earlier shone with the bat, making a rapid 73.

Mahmood took three early Hampshire wickets to leave Dimitri Mascarenhas’ team on 33 for three.

Paceman Mahmood sent openers Michael Brown and Michael Carberry back to the dressing room for ducks.

Brown lost his off stump to a ball that moved away slightly and Carberry reached for a ball well outside off stump only to edge it to wicket-keeper Geraint Jones. Mahmood then pinned Michael Lumb lbw for four.

Ervine led the recovery with his purposeful innings before Pothas and Mascarenhas took the total to 143.

Mascarenhas was trapped lbw by Yasir Arafat for 14 to slow the pace of the recovery.

Pothas played watchfully but was quick to hit the loose ball. He stepped out to hit James Tredwell for a four and then a straight six in successive overs. A cover drive for four off the same bowler took him to 49 and he reached his second half-century of the match from 92 balls.

By close of play on the third day he was unbeaten on 52 from 125 balls while Tremlett gave him solid support with a patient innings of 17 not out having faced 64 balls.

Earlier, a fluent innings of 73 from 81 balls from Mahmood ensured that Kent eked out their slender lead.

Imran Tahir took five wickets for Hampshire

Resuming on an overnight score of 241 for three, Kent lost five wickets in the first session, four of those claimed by James Tomlinson who conceded just three runs for his first three wickets.

But it was Imran Tahir who claimed the first to fall when Tredwell top-edged a sweep shot.

Martin van Jaarsveld and Justin Kemp fell in quick succession to Tomlinson to reduce the home side to 257 for six.

Tomlinson, who finished with figures of 4-64, had Geraint Jones' cut shot held at point and half an hour later Arafat edged to second slip.

Kent's last two wickets added 67 with Mahmood scoring freely and picking up 14 boundaries.

The second new ball which was taken before lunch after 86.3 overs made little difference as Mahmood continued to attack the bowling to bring up a half-century from only 59 balls.

Tahir was brought back for his second spell of the session and Mahmood promptly drove him to the cover boundary for his last scoring shot.

In the same over his lofted drive was held at mid-off and Tahir finished with 5-96.