TCP VERDICT
One swallow doesn’t make a summer, as the cliché goes, but Haseeb Hameed batted his way back into England contention.
Forget the disastrous first innings prod, the 77 not out second time around was classic Hameed.
Crab-like, watchful, serene, self-confident but most importantly of all, chanceless. At his very best the Great Wall of Bolton refuses to give a sniff.
The West Indies series will come slightly too soon, but selector James Whittaker was nodding approvingly by the end of day two.
How galling it was when the rain tap got stuck on and washed out hopes of Hameed’s fifth first-class ton, although if the 2016 version is back in stock expect the three figure hoodoo to be relinquished soon.
While Hameed grabbed the headlines, it was opening partner Alex Davies who produced the most extraordinary innings.
Davies crashed 97 to turn a wicket packed opening day and a half, which had seen Hampshire boast a 75-run first innings lead, into some of the greatest counter-attacking batting in memory.
The positives piled up for the Red Rose, with Kyle Jarvis’ best bowling figures for the county, and too for Hampshire as Liam Dawson put behind his England nightmares to impress with ball and bat.
It was all in vain though, as the adverse weather stunted this potential classic into a puddle of despair.