Hants fight back against Warwickshire

Jimmy Adams was out in the fourth over as Hampshire attempted to set Warwickshire a testing target to chase on the last day.

The left-hander edged a loose drive outside off stump and succeeded only in edging James Anyon's medium pace to Jonathan Trott at first slip (11-1).

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Hampshire fought back bravely with the ball this afternoon.

But Alex Loudon (103) and Warwickshire's tail added 78 runs for the last two wickets in 16 overs to ensure a first-innings lead of 93.

After being bowled out for just 169, their lowest first-innings score for two years, Hampshire dismissed Warwickshire for 262 having at one stage had the home side rocking on 184-8.

James Bruce showed Warwickshire captain Darren Maddy that the home side would not have it all their own way, forcing him to retire hurt after striking him in the groin area.

Maddy would have been grateful for the protection of his box when he returned to the dressing room in the tenth over, with nine runs to his name, but Hampshire turned the screw with three quick wickets.

In the next over, Sri Lankan Test star Kumar Sangakkara chipped a return catch to Stuart Clark (25-1).

Then Bruce took two quick wickets after lunch.

Jonathan Trott (3) was trapped lbw by the Hampshire seamer (30-2).

And Troughton was out for a brisk 18 (16 balls), caught by a diving Michael Lumb at second slip (52-3).

Hampshire were cock-a-hoop but had to wait 17 overs for their next wicket - when two came along in quick succession for Dimitri Mascarenhas.

The left-handed Ian Westwood (51) drilled his 99th delivery straight to Clark at short extra cover (126-4).

And in Mascarenhas's next over, Tim Ambrose (0) was well caught by Clark at mid-off (134-5).

Maddy (24) was fit to return to the crease after 26 overs of recovery time (and the 40-minute lunch break) but was back in the pavilion nine overs later, caught behind after driving at a wide delivery from Clark (161-6).

However, Alex Loudon - having reached his fifty from 62 balls with his 12th four - ensured a first-innings lead with a pulled six against Clark after Warne had brought himself on to bowl the 47th over of the innings.

Clark responded by having Tim Groenewald (10) caught by Lumb at first slip (179-7).

And in the next over Jimmy Adams held on to a sensational diving, right-handed catch at slip after Naqaash Tahir (5) edged a Warne leg break (184-8).

TEA: WARWICKSHIRE WERE 198-8 (LOUDON 67*, STEYN 14*) IN REPLY TO HAMPSHIRE'S 169

Warwickshire's ninth-wicket pair blazed 33 quick runs in which Loudon lofted Warne for a disdainful six before Dale Steyn (25) was caught in the deep after attempting to hook Tremlett (217-9).

Loudon reached his third hundred of the season by glancing and slogging Warne for successive fours, having lofted Hampshire's captain for another six.

The former Kent batsman was eventually stumped for 103 (138 balls, 17 fours and three sixes).

Hampshire bowling: Clark 15-3-65-3, Bruce 11-3-38-2, Mascarenhas 13-3-40-2, Tremlett 17-3-71-1, Warne 10.2-1-47-2

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Michael Carberry made 52 this morning, his first fifty of the season, but after resuming on 121-5 Hampshire only managed to add a further 48.

Naqaash Tahir took three of the wickets to fall to conclude another poor Hampshire batting performance.

Mascarenhas (8) was beaten through bat and pad in losing his off stump to the young fast bowler (133-6).

Warne (4), having been dropped on 0, was then caught at third slip by Sangakkara (147-7).

Hampshire lost their last three wickets without scoring a run.

Tremlett (6) was unfortunate to be run out at the non-striker's end after a powerful Carberry drive was deflected on to the stumps by Tim Groenewald (169-8).

Then Carberry holed out to long off and Bruce was trapped lbw by a toe-crunching yorker.

Warwickshire bowling: Steyn 17-6-32-0, Anyon 16-4-47-2, Tahir 18.1-6-41-3, Groenewald 12-5-26-3, Maddy 2-1-8-1, Loudon 2-0-5-0