Hampshire II seamer David Griffiths recorded match figures of 7-36 but the second XI championship match against Sussex still finished in a draw at the Rose Bowl yesterday.

Griffiths (4-29), Billy Taylor (3-33) and James Tomlinson (2-3) bowled out Sussex for 86 in response to Hampshire's first innings 139.

Then Sean Ervine (46 from 43 balls) and Greg Lamb (62* from 49 balls) helped Hampshire blast 164-3 from 25 overs - without the aid of joke bowling - to set Sussex 218 to win from a minimum of 31 overs.

Isle of Wight product Griffiths (7-3-7-3) reduced the visitors to 10-3 but Sussex recovered to 51-3 after 25 overs, when the match ended in a draw.

Left-arm quick Tomlinson suffered an ankle injury yesterday but the form of 21-year-old Griffiths increases the competition for first-team places.

Griffiths also took 6-67 as Hampshire II won their opening match of the season by six wickets against Essex at the end of April.

Greg Lamb made 117 in that match and last week Michael Carberry returned to action with 157 in the draw against Middlesex II at Uxbridge.

Carberry also made 52 in the draw against Sussex II as he prepared for his return to the first team against Somerset in the Friends Provident Trophy today.