TCP VERDICT

Last year Hampshire avoided relegation only after the ECB punished Durham for their financial problems. This time they stayed up thanks to a brave rearguard action on the last afternoon.

After Somerset beat Middlesex at Taunton, Hampshire knew that they had to avoid defeat here to escape the drop and, despite a wobble after lunch when they lost three wickets for four runs, that was achieved.

Quite how Hampshire found themselves scrapping for Division One survival is difficult to understand. Only a month ago they appeared to be challenging Essex for the title but other results in the last two rounds of matches and a loss to Essex, conspired against them.

Hampshire did well to escape with the draw in conditions that favoured bowlers after the first day was lost to rain.

Twenty wickets fell on the second day when Dominic Sibley carried his bat for an unflustered 92 which helped Warwickshire to recover from a perilous 12-4 despite being tested by the pace of Fidel Edwards who took 5-49.

George Bailey’s half century prevented Hampshire from disintegrating in reply but Ian Bell’s and Warwickshire’s unbeaten second innings 77 put the pressure on Hampshire.

It then became a fourth innings battle for survival as James Vince’s marathon helped secure the draw.