TWO wickets in three balls from Beau Webster and a late wicket from Che Simmons have kept Warwickshire in contention against Hampshire at Edgbaston.
Earlier in the second day of the sides’ County Championship match, Kyle Abbott put Hampshire in control with an excellent bowling display.
Abbott took five for 47, his second five-for in successive games, as Warwickshire were bowled out for 194 to sustain a first innings deficit of 106. Ed Barnard counter-attacked impressively and reached an excellent half century from just 43 balls, but became the ninth wicket to fall (58, 55 balls).
Hampshire then leaned hard on Fletcha Middleton’s 76 (124 balls) as they reached 159 for six in their second innings. They lead by 265 overall, a significant advantage on a pitch still assisting the seamers.
Warwickshire resumed on the second morning on 27 for two and swiftly lost both overnight batters. Nightwatcher Olly Hannon-Dalby edged Abbott to first slip before John Turner struck a crucial blow when Tom Latham, fresh from 184 on his debut last week, fell for just five when he edged to third slip.
On a grey morning, against a swinging ball, batting was tricky. Sam Hain and Beau Webster grafted hard to add 62 in 21 overs, but Hampshire’s seamers sustained the pressure and Abbott removed both just before lunch. Hain’s dogged 23 (77 balls) was ended by a perfect outswinger. A nifty inswinger brought Webster’s fluent 41 (66) to a close when he inside-edged a drive onto his middle stump.
Barnard defied with discipline but without support. Zen Malik was late on a straight ball from Brad Wheal, and Ethan Bamber flicked James Fuller to mid-wicket. Barnard reached an accomplished 43-ball 50 but then edged Abbott to wicketkeeper Ben Brown, who collected again when Che Simmons edged Turner.
Hampshire’s second innings began in the game’s first sunshine, but the ball continued to move around, and while Middleton settled, partners came and went.
None of the other top six batters passed 15 as Mark Stoneman edged Hannon-Dalby to first slip, Bamber drew fatal edges from Nick Gubbins and Tom Prest, and Beau Webster removed Ben Brown, lbw, and Liam Dawson, caught at second slip, in three balls.
At 99 for five, Hampshire were in danger of relinquishing their advantage but Middleton and Toby Albert added 52 in 15 overs to reassert their side’s control. Albert (29 not out, 52 balls) made important runs for the second time in the match while Middleton reached 50 (71 balls) for the first time in ten attempts this season.
Though he was bowled by Simmons just before the close, on a pitch which examines the batters’ powers of technique and diligenc
