Hampshire were left hanging on for a draw, grateful for the loss of 33 overs to rain and three dropped catches at The Rose Bowl yesterday.

For some spectators, the second XI's trophy clash against Gloucestershire on the Nursery Ground provided more enterainment.

But a dull championship match against Warwickshire flickered into life in the last session, when the visitors' seam attack, with the exception of Shaun Polloack, took seven Hampshire wickets in 50 overs.

Warwickshire skipper Michael Powell may well have regretted his decision to wait for a lead of 302 before declaring.

After resuming at 267-5, Warwickshire waited until they had added another 62 in just 11 overs before setting Hampshire 303 to win.

That allowed Jim Troughton to extend his highest first-class score to 131, which he made off 184 balls.

Scotsman Dougie Brown contributed 23 out of a 26-run sixth-wicket stand with the centurion and he hit three boundaries off one over from Mullally before he became the eighth of the left-armers' nine victims in the match.

Then, after an early lunch due to rain, Hampshire were made to suffer on a deteriorating wicket.

By waiting for a healthy lead before declaring, Powell was able to set an attacking field.

Four slips and a gulley were supplimented by a short leg and silly mid-off, but Warwickshire's catching failed to back up their seamers, who were effective on a wicket of variable bounce.

Will Kendall was put down by Brown at fourth slip after attempting a flourishing drive off the bowling of Melvyn Betts.

Kendall was on nought at the time but went on to make 14 before he nibbled one from the same bowler.

Derek Kenway had already departed when Alan Richardson, the man who thwarted Hampshire with the bat at Egbaston, bowled him with one that kept low.

With John Crawley at the crease and another break for rain threatening to bring the match to an early close, a Hampshire defeat seemed a long way away.

Crawley looked in good nick.

He hit Betts for some attractive drives through the offside before succumbing to a grubber that nipped back off the seam from Richardson.

Warwickshire were always in with a chance and may have pulled off a shock win had Nick Knight not shelled the most crucial of the three drops.

Captain Robin Smith was on one when Knight put him down at the second slip and he eventually departed for 41 after edging Betts to opposite number Powell at first slip.

Nic Pothas was put down by fellow South Africa Pollock at third slip when on nought and he also departed to a shooter.

When Dimi Mascarenhas edged Brown, Warwickshire needed three wickets in seven overs, but Giles White, who faced 58 balls for his ten not out, was there at the end with Udal.