Records galore as Hampshire are made to struggle

Hampshire were made to endure an elongated session in the field on the warmest day of the season so far, and will have to work very hard if they are to gain anything from this Frizzell County Championship match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Alan Richardson, the Warwickshire seam-bowler and one of the real `bunnies' in terms of batting on the county circuit, made his own team-mates and Hampshire's bowlers look decidedly ordinary as he and his more exalted partner, Nick Knight continued to bat ... and bat.

Resuming on their overnight 274-9 and their tenth wicket partnership at a meagre 16, surely the plan was to dismiss the hosts for not much more and enjoy the bright sunshine and flattening wicket.

Being without Mascarenhas, who remained off the field with a hamstring tear, should not have mattered but Richardson grew in stature as he continued to keep Knight company through 300. And then 350, while in doing so, passing his previous career best of just 17.

The number 11, who has struck just 82 runs in his 31 first-class innings before this was producing some measured strokes against the variety of bowlers used by Robin Smith.

Knight recorded the second double century of his career, while Richardson recorded his first ever half-century. From struggling overnight, Warwickshire were building a commanding first innings total.

Then the records started to fall. The highest 10th wicket partnership against Hampshire was first, passing the 140* by Rodney Ontong and Robin Hobbs at Swansea in 1981. Then the best by Warwickshire, and the highest at Edgbaston.

Richardson, with 10 fours and a six from a mammoth 199 balls, was finally dismissed for 91 by the occasional leg-spin of Giles White, swiftly stumped by Nic Pothas. He had broken the highest score for Warwickshire at number 11 and the highest against Hampshire in the same position in the process.

It left Knight, unbeaten and carrying his bat through the innings on 255, the second best total for Warwickshire against Hampshire.

The tenth wicket partnership had added 214 - the fifth best in County Championship history and a beleaguered Hampshire, who thought they would be bat in hand by at least 11.30am strode out four hours later than envisaged.

It did not get much better, in losing Derek Kenway to Melvyn Betts' second delivery in the second over.

Will Kendall was well snapped up by Dougie Brown close to the wicket for a watchful 25 and Giles White's 120-ball stay came to an end when he leg glanced a ball from England discard Ashley Giles into Ian Bell's midriff for 36.

Skipper Robin Smith and Neil Johnson safely saw Hampshire to the close at 89-3, still wanting another 234 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Giles, who took both of the later wickets in the day, will be the lynchpin in Warwickshire's hopes, as he is already finding plenty of turn.

A DAY OF BROKEN RECORDS
Highest tenth wicket partnership for Warwickshire
(previous best - 141 AF Giles & TA Munton v Worcestershire at Worcester 1996)

Highest tenth wicket partnership against Hampshire
(previous - 140* RC Ontong & RNS Hobbs for Glamorgan at Swansea 1981)

Highest tenth wicket partnership at Edgbaston

Nick Knight's career-best
(previous - 233 v Glamorgan at Edgbaston 2000)

Alan Richardson's career-best
(previous - 17* v Northamptonshire at Northampton 2000)

Highest score by a number 11 for Warwickshire
(previous - 74 by Danny Mayer v Surrey at The Oval 1927)

Highest score by a number 11 against Hampshire
(previous - 80* by George Hunt for Somerset at Taunton 1930)