WILL KENDALL'S outstanding sportsmanship cost him a second successive three-figure score as Hampshire surrendered the initiative against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

The 25-year-old former Oxford Blue followed his 201 off the Sussex attack last week with a solid 98, passing 1,000 Championship runs for the season, but the visitors declined from 214-2 to 301-8 at the close after Robin Smith opted to bat first on an easy-paced pitch.

Kendall looked set for a century until he shaped to turn a ball from David Sales down the leg side and wicket-keeper David Ripley, standing up to the stumps, appealed for a catch.

Umpire Graham Burgess did not raise a finger but Kendall still walked and was applauded back to the pavilion by both the crowd and Test official David Shepherd standing at square leg.

Kendall and Smith posted 145 for the third wicket after the loss of openers Jason Laney and Derek Kenway in the morning session and Smith also narrowly missed out on a 100 when Devon Malcolm bowled him without offering a stroke for 94.

The day began well for Northants paceman Paul Taylor who produced a fine inswinger to remove Laney in the second over of the match, claiming his 500th wicket in first class cricket.

Kenway (39) and Kendall repaired the damage with a 66-run partnership, although Kendall should have depart-ed with 28 to his name.

He edged Tony Penberthy low to second slip where Alec Swann failed to hold the chance. Left-arm spinner Michael Davies broke the stand during another impressive spell, luring Kenway down the track for Ripley to complete a routine stumping, but that was to be Northants' last success until Kendall went just before tea having struck 12 fours in his 210-ball knock.

Smith, surprisingly still without a Championship century this summer, was severe on Malcolm until the fatal misjudgement which ended his stay of three and a quarter hours featuring 15 boundaries.

And Northants made further inroads as Graeme Swann, with a South African tour to look forward to this winter, accounted for Adrian Aymes, Shaun Udal and Simon Renshaw in quick succession while Davies trapped Zac Morris lbw.

Giles White survived the flurry of wickets to reach an unbeaten 43 and Hampshire's hopes of securing maximum batting points now appear to rest squarely with him.

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