HAMPSHIRE were denied victory against Warwickshire by Sam Hain’s second century of and an unbroken, ninth-wicket partnership that lasted nearly two hours

Hain’s unbeaten 129 in the first innings was his first first-class hundred for three years and he followed it with a match-saving 104 before Henry Brookes and Jeetan Patel’s 164-ball alliance handed Warwickshire an unlikely draw in the Specsavers County Championship.

Leicestershire loanee Ben Mike, 19, made his maiden half-century in a 120-run partnership with Hain, before skipper Patel’s 112-run partnership with fellow tail-ender Brookes completed the incredible rear-guard.

The draw means Warwickshire edged further away from the relegation zone, while Hampshire’s title hopes took another huge dent.

When the final day began, Hampshire needed seven wickets to secure their fourth Championship victory of the season.

Abbott had taken three wickets in an galvanic evening period on day three, which accounted for both openers, Dominic Sibley and Will Rhodes, and nightwatchman Olly Stone.

At lunch it was a case of when Hampshire would complete their win.

He almost began the final day in style only for Hain to be dropped by a diving Lewis McManus.

Six overs later, Abbott bowled Rob Yates while from around the wicket.

In his next over, Adam Hose made the mistake of leaving a straight delivery from Abbott – that left the visitors 52-5 and Abbott with figures of 5-78, his fourth five-wicket haul of the season.

Hain, who had scored a century in the first innings, frustrated Hampshire with a 51-run stand with Tim Ambrose for the sixth wicket.

But Keith Barker was rewarded for accurate bowling in both innings against his former county as Ambrose edged to Ajinkya Rahane at second slip.

Hain passed 50 (77 balls) for the second time in the match as he teamed up with Mike for the seventh wicket.

They provided Hampshire an incredible amount of frustration as they battled through the entire afternoon session, scoring 120 in 40 overs to hand the away side a glimmer of hope.

Hain reached his second hundred of the game, the first Warwickshire player to do so on the road since Ian Bell at Lancashire in 2004, in 188 balls – having not scored three figures in the Championship for three years prior to this match.

Mike reached his maiden half century in 89 balls but his vigil with Hain vigil ended when he edged Ian Holland, with three overs still to bowl until the second new ball.

Organ then found turn out the rough to finally dismiss Hain for the first time

But the second new ball didn’t hand Hampshire the wickets they desired as Patel crunched his first fifty since 2017, in 53 balls, during a stoic stand with Brookes.

Warwickshire first-team coach Jim Troughton:“Abbott in my view is one of the best county bowlers on the circuit.

“Those three wickets he got at the end of last night put us on the back foot and then the ones this morning made it look like the game could be over by lunch.

“We regrouped at lunch and Ben and Sam Hain gave us a glimmer of a hope.

“We lost those two guys just after tea, but Jeets and Brooksy were incredible.

“I didn’t really watch much of the last eight overs!

“It isn’t often you feel this ecstatic about a draw, but those five points could be valuable at the end of the season.”

Hampshire captain Sam Northeast described the day as ‘really tough’.

“The guys put in so much effort over the four days and we created enough chances but we didn’t quite take them.

“As a team I think we stuck together well and it wasn’t to be as the pitch at the end was dead and flat.

“There are still a lot of positives to take out of it, especially after two straight defeats, which means we can move forwards rather than backwards.

“Ian Holland and Aneurin Donald batted well and Felix Organ showed a lot of guts and determination there and bowled nicely.

“Then there was Kyle Abbott who is bowling unbelievable at the moment. I kept going back to the fast bowlers to burgle a few more overs out of them. They have run in all day.”

Northeast, who returns to Canterbury with England Lions while Hampshire host his former Kent teammates this weekend, added: “I’m sure they will be fine for Saturday.”

FINAL INNINGS SCORECARD
Warwickshire second innings
(31-3 overnight after being set 404 to win)
WMH Rhodes c Rahane b Abbott 10
DP Sibley b Abbott 2
RM Yates b Abbott 14
OP Stone b Abbott 0
SR Hain b Organ 104
AJ Hose b Abbott 2
TR Ambrose † c Rahane b Barker 14
BWM Mike c †McManus b Holland 72
HJH Brookes not out 36
JS Patel (c) not out 70
Extras 23 (b 7, lb 4, nb 12)
TOTAL 347-8 (106.5 overs)
Yet to bat: OJ Hannon-Dalby
Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Dominic Sibley, 3.5 ov), 2-21 (Will Rhodes, 7.2 ov), 3-21 (Olly Stone, 7.3 ov), 4-50 (Robert Yates, 17.3 ov), 5-52 (Adam Hose, 19.4 ov), 6-103 (Tim Ambrose, 36.4 ov), 7-223 (Ben Mike, 76.6 ov), 8-235 (Sam Hain, 79.3 ov)
BOWLING: FH Edwards 20.5-3-85-0, KJ Abbott 23-4-78-5, KHD Barker 13-1-47-1, GK Berg 12-2-31-0, FS Organ 24-5-64-1, IG Holland 14-3-31-1.