Brown's fury despite passing 1,000 mark

Michael Brown reached 1,000 Championship runs for the season - then blamed himself for triggering a dramatic Hants collapse.

Brown had made 42 when he came down the pitch to James Tredwell before drilling the off-spinner straight to mid-off to become the first of four Hampshire wickets to fall for six runs.

Hampshire slipped from 98-1 to 104-5 in 29 deliveries after tea before finally closing on 186-7 - still 309 behind needing a further 160 to avoid the follow-on.

Tredwell, having hit 62 before Kent were finally bowled out for 495, supposedly had a knee injury but finished with 4-46 to leave Hampshire's title hopes in shreds.

Brown became the fifth Hampshire batsman to reach 1,000 Championship runs for the season when driving Tredwell for one of his five fours.

But he believes he is to blame

He said: "The Rose Bowl is one of those grounds where wickets often fall in bundles, which makes it worse when two batsmen get out when set.

"Anyone can get out early, so I take responsibility for my role in the demise - I should have got a lot more than 42.

"My idea was right - that's how I play the spinners best - but I didn't execute it well. I got to the pitch and should have leant into it and hit it along the floor.

"But I sat back too much and hit it flat to mid-off.

"At that stage we should have kept at least seven or eight wickets in the hut going into the third day, so I hold my hand up."

There is still hope.

Shane Warne (28*) and debutant David Balcombe (19*) have so far added 47 runs for the eighth wicket and Brown is hoping they can extend their partnership.

He added: "We're up against it to say the least and it's disappointing, but it's still a reasonable wicket to bat on.

"It's certainly not a 186-7 wicket, so we need to get as close to the follow on target as possible.

"It's a classic cliche but we've got to take the third day ball-by-ball and eke out as many runs as we possibly can.

"There's a long way to go. Warney's got goodness knows how many nineties in Test cricket and Balcs can develop into an all rounder."

Brown admitted that becoming only the fifth Hampshire batsman to reach 1,000 Championship runs since the move to the Rose Bowl - Neil Johnson, Simon Katich, John Crawley (twice) and Jimmy Adams - was little consolation yesterday.

He added: "I'm happy with my own achievements in some respects but when you have a chance to win the title, which doesn't come around often, it's a minor thing."

Warne celebrates his 38th birthday today but the Championship title that he covets will almost certainly have to wait another year after yesterday's collapse.

He took his 50th Championship wicket of the season when he trapped Kent's last man Martin Saggers lbw to finish with 4-134.

But that was little consolation on a day when Hampshire's title hopes all but disappeared.

The day began as well as could have been expected when Martin van Jaarsveld was bowled without adding to his overnight 112 while shouldering arms to debutant David Balcombe, an away-swing bowler who surprised the South African with a ball that held its line.

But Geraint Jones, ridiculed as 'club pro' by Warne during the Ashes series, was subjected to a series of bouncers from Hampshire's frustrated captain as he led Kent to maximum batting points before chopping an attempted cut on to his off stump.

Without the experience of John Crawley, who suffered a back spasm at Kidderminster last week, Hampshire's top order crumbled again, despite a solid start from Michael Carberry and Brown.

Carberry's record against Kent is worse than any other county but his partnership with Brown looked to have laid the foundations for a decent total.

His 46 was his highest score against the side he left for Hampshire two years ago but ended when he was trapped lbw on the back foot by Tredwell.

Brown, Michael Lumb, Jimmy Adams and Nic Pothas then departed in four successive overs.

Lumb was pinned lbw for the eighth time in 16 Championship innings and Adams worked Tredwell to short leg.

Pothas got a nick after chasing a wide one and Chris Benham, who has not scored a Championship fifty since the opening match of the season, spliced an attempted pull to mid-on.

By the time Sean Ervine was caught at the wicket, Hampshire had lost seven wickets for 60 runs in 26 overs.

At least Warne, who ended the day on 28 (33 balls) showed some fight.

He lofted Tredwell over mid-on for six and followed up with a swept four as he and Balcombe restored a degree of stability.

Balcombe, who has a first-class fifty, showed he can bat with two textbook drives in helping Warne add 47 before the close.

Hampshire's collapse was made all the more frustrating by the news from the Riverside, where leaders Sussex closed on 85-4 against Durham, a lead of just 60.

Lancashire were level on points with Hampshire but should beat Warwickshire so the title race could still go to the wire a week on Saturday, but Hampshire will not have much of a say.