Adams & Carberry break Richards & Greenidge record

Adams had not made a century for a year until this afternoon. He went on to make 231, the second-highest score of his career, on the penultimate day of the LV County Championship match against Leicestershire at The Ageas Bowl.

The Hampshire captain has now converted five of his 20 first-class Hampshire centuries into doubles (only all-time greats Greenidge and Phil Mead have more).  

Adams’ third in 14 matches on home soil helped Hampshire to 497-8, their highest total of the season, in reply to Leicestershire’s 303.

Carberry helped Adams lay the foundation with the county’s biggest opening stand against Leicestershire, surpassing the 201 shared by the fabled opening pair of Richards and Greenidge at Northlands Road in 1970.

Fittingly, some of Richards and Greenidge’s teammates were at The Ageas Bowl for the ex-players’ reunion as Adams and Carberry shared 253, Hampshire's biggest partnership since the same pair broke the county's all-time second-wicket record (373 against Somerset at Taunton in 2011).

After resuming on 48-0, they rattled along at more than four an over.

Both made Leicestershire pay for dropping them before they reached fifty as they ensured back-to-back century stands following their 179 against Kent at Canterbury.

Having equalled the 44 year-old record held by Richards and Greenidge, they broke it with a cover-driven Carberry four.

Hampshire captain Adams had already reached his first Championship century for a year, from only 132 balls (18 fours).

Then, after being dropped on 94 at first slip off Charlie Shreck, Carberry reached his third hundred of the season (185 balls, 16 fours).

Hampshire's biggest opening partnership since Adams and Carberry’s 261 against Warwickshire at The Ageas Bowl in 2009 finally ended when Carberry was caught at the wicket trying to cut the off-spin of Jigar Naik, shortly after receiving treatment when an errant throw struck him on the hand. He made 110 (196 balls, 18 fours).

But Adams was not finished. His second hundred came from 146 balls and by the time he was caught by a diving Greg Smith at mid-on he had hit 34 fours and three sixes, including 18 off four balls against Naik.

Thanks largely to their captain, Hampshire lead by 194 and could yet complete a maximum-points win despite losing 86 overs to rain on day two.

“We rode our luck at times but when you play positively things tend to go your way and that was the case,” said Adams. “It’s about time Carbs and I had a reasonable partnership. It’s a good wicket and conditions were in our favour but we need another good day to make the most of it.

“We’ll have to bowl well, it would be nice to have [a lead of] 200 to use some scoreboard pressure but we’ve certainly given ourselves the option [of declaring overnight] and it’s starting to turn.”