Hampshire face uphill task after following-on

Hampshire are facing defeat at Edgbaston after being forced to follow-on against Warwickshire. The day went full circle when bad light brought an early close to play, with Smith (33*) and Johnson (3*) at the crease, as they had been at the close yesterday - only ten wickets had fallen in the interim.

Despite solid half-centuries from Neil Johnson and Nic Pothas, Hampshire were bowled out 20 short of the follow-on target, giving the hosts a distinct advantage going to the last day.

Already three wickets down overnight, skipper Robin Smith and Neil Johnson made steady progress with a fourth-wicket stand of 81.

Smith, who became the 116th player in first-class cricket history to pass 25,000 runs when reaching 19, lunged forward to danger man Ashley Giles and edged to South African captain Shaun Pollock in the slips for 44.

Laurie Prittipaul was undone by a ball from Dougie Brown which barely left the ground before Johnson and Pothas pushed Hampshire closer to their task, sticking together for 87 valuable runs.

But, as had been the story throughout this game, batsmen, whilst making a start were failing to go on and make it count - barring Knight and Richardson in Warwickshire's innings.

Johnson went for a fine 79 while Pothas also suffered a non-bouncing ball, this time from day two hero Alan Richardson for 59.

Shaun Udal, with the tail for company looked in good touch for his 27 not out, but when Alan Mullally hooked Pollock with just 21 more needed to beat the follow-on, Hampshire were asked by Michael Powell to have another go.

Giles, who was finding plenty of assistance from the surface weighed in with 3-96, but it was the seamers that caused the most damage - Melvyn Betts with 3-75 and Richardson (2-61) the main perpetrators.

Trailing by 170, Kendall and Kenway created a steady base with a 43 opening stand until the former perished, followed swiftly by White, both to Richardson.

Derek Kenway, not in the best form of late, gave himself a timely boost with a 108-ball knock of 54. But with the wicket becoming increasingly uneven in bounce, Brown trapped him leg before.