HAMPSHIRE’S batting woes continued as they were skittled for 187 in their final match of the season by relegation candidates Lancashire at The Ageas Bowl.

Tom Bailey took four wickets as the visitors took maximum bowling points to boost their faint survival hopes.

Fast bowler Bailey finished with 4-57 as Hampshire missed out on a batting point for the fifth successive match, following previous first-innings totals of 172 (Essex), 191 (Worcestershire), 148 (Somerset) and 157 (Yorkshire).

Hampshire seamer Kyle Abbott responded with his 50th first-class wicket, while England’s Keaton Jennings (48) was one of two victims for Ian Holland.

But Lancashire are in a good position to secure a first-innings lead in what is a late bid to beat the drop. 

Seam movement caused Hampshire problems throughout.

Weatherley edged a cut shot off Gleeson close to his body which flicked behind to keeper Alex Davies, before Jimmy Adams, in his penultimate professional innings, edged to third slip.

James Vince made a fluent 22, with a number of typically eye-catching shots, before he was lbw.

Opener Oli Soames produced a defensive masterclass and batted out the entire morning session for a career-best of 29 before chopping on against the pace of Saqib Mahmood – giving the injury plagued 21-year-old his first scalp of the season.

At 101-4, Hampshire were in a position of promise, but were soon 112-7.

Liam Dawson (ten) edged Mahmood to first slip before Holland and the recalled Lewis McManus departed in the same Richard Gleeson over, bowled by a ball which kept low and the latter caught low by Jennings at first slip. 

Amid the post-lunch chaos, Northeast grafted his way to 42 and shared a 40-run stand with Berg. 

Abbott and Fidel Edwards added a useful 24 for the last wicket before the West Indian slogged a slow full toss from Bailey to Livingstone at mid-off.

Edwards and Abbott soon removed Alex Davies and debutant Brooke Guest. 

But Jennings refused to take unnecessary risks, adding 83 with Livingstone before he was bowled by Holland, who removed night watchman Stephen Parry with Lancashire 67 runs short of a much-needed batting point.

Hampshire batsman Sam Northeast said: “Batting hasn’t been easy for the last month, playing in September is probably something to do with that.

“There's no doubt there was something there for the bowlers this morning and we had to get through that little period.

“It was disappointing to get out when I did as I was building nicely with Bergy there and then the pitch got flatter.

“I've been frustrated about getting quite a few 40s and not go on and make a big one.

“When it mattered a few games ago when it looked like a potential relegation it was nice to get stuck in and make a contribution.”

Lancashire batsman Dane Villas said: “The day went according to plan. We bowled them out before tea and then got in and got some nice runs on the board.

“We're aware of the situation and that there is a tiny percentage that we can still stay up, but anything can happen in cricket.

“We would be gutted it Notts fell short and we didn’t do the business. It has been a season of missed opportunities and that could be another missed opportunity.

“We just want to win the game.”

SCORECARD

Hampshire first innings
JJ Weatherley c †Davies b Gleeson 7
OC Soames b Mahmood 29
JHK Adams c Vilas b Bailey 0
JM Vince (c) lbw b Bohannon 22
SA Northeast lbw b Bailey 42
LA Dawson c Jennings b Mahmood 10
IG Holland b Gleeson 1
LD McManus † c Jennings b Gleeson 0
GK Berg c Jones b Bailey 21
KJ Abbott not out 10
FH Edwards c Livingstone b Bailey 14
Extras 31 (b 8, lb 13, nb 10)
TOTAL 187 all out (56.5 overs)
Fall of wickets: 1-15 (JJ Weatherley, 7.6 ov), 2-20 (JHK Adams, 10.6 ov), 3-63 (JM Vince, 23.1 ov), 4-87 (OC Soames, 28.3 ov), 5-101 (LA Dawson, 30.1 ov), 6-112 (IG Holland, 35.1 ov), 7-112 (LD McManus, 35.6 ov), 8-152 (SA Northeast, 48.2 ov), 9-163 (GK Berg, 52.4 ov), 10-187 (FH Edwards, 56.5 ov)
BOWLING: TE Bailey 18.5-4-57-4, RJ Gleeson 15-5-34-3, S Mahmood 15-4-39-2, JJ Bohannon 8-0-36-1    

Lancashire first innings
K Jennings b Holland 48
AL Davies † b Edwards 3
BD Guest b Abbott 8
LS Livingstone (c) not out 46
SD Parry c †McManus b Holland 0
DJ Vilas not out 5
Extras 13 (b 1, lb 6, nb 6)
TOTAL 123/4 (39 overs)
Yet to bat: RP Jones, JJ Bohannon, TE Bailey, S Mahmood, RJ Gleeson
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-30, 3-111, 4-111.
BOWLING: Edwards 9-2-37-1, Abbott 10-3-26-1, Berg 5-1-20-0, Holland 9-4-21-2, Dawson 6-0-12-0