By th end of the first session things were looking good with Middx a third of the way to the target of 301 and only three wickets down, despite another inept display from Andy Strauss (19) and Ben Hutton (24) . but then things went wrong. First Owais Shah fell for 24 with 125 on the board. Ed Joyce went soon after, the first of three Middx batsmen to go in a short space of time. Next went Scott Styris for a duck before Ed Smith who had held things went for 52.

Hope was soon restored with with a 50 partnership between Paul Weekes (49) and Ben Scott (22) but when Scott feel, there would only be one winner. Keegan (3) Richardson (0) and Whelan (9*) made up the tail whilst Warne and Tremlett both took 4 wicket hauls.

Day 3:

Hampshire set Middlesex a target of 295 runs on the final day to secure their first championship win of 2005. The target was that small thanks to an excellent display by Scott Styris who took 6-73 to limit Hants.

Having lost Chad Keegan from the attack, Styris took control, assisted by Whelan. Crawley (40) Pothas (65) and Peiterson (28) amongst his victims. Whelan, making his championship debut also removed Ervine (30) but neither could get rid of Mascarenhas who finished 44 not out when the last wicket fell. Hants all out for 304, a lead of 300.

There was time for 4 overs, which Middlesex used to get 6 runs, 5 for Andy Strauss who will nee to provide a big innings tomorrow if Middlesex are to win.

Day 2:

Middlesex forged a very narrow advantage over Hampshire on the second day at the Rose Bowl, but the wicket will looks as if it will definitely produce a result and there is still a lot of work to be done if the win is to go our way.

Having started the day on 9/0, Middlesex suffered a disastrous opening spell and soon found themselves 27/3 with Strauss, Smith and captain Hutton all back in the pavilion. However, superb batting from Ed Joyce and Owais Shah snuffed out the threat of Shane Warne, and both players cracked half-centuries as the fourth-wicket partnership flourished. The first batting point was within reach when Joyce finally succumbed to the Aussie leg-spinner for 70, and a rush of blood saw Shah stumped by a mile for 83.

Wickets began to fall more rapidly after this and no real partnerships could be established; by the time Middlesex reached Hampshire's first innings score, Mascarenhas had dismissed Weekes and Scott cheaply and Styris had been trapped lbw after adding a spirited 33. Warne and Tremlett then wrapped up Keegan and last man Chris Whelan (who had scored a brave 1 on his championship debut) to end the Middlesex innings on 279, with a lead of just four runs.

With 14 overs to bowl at Hampshire, the visitors attacked strongly in the hope of taking a wicket before the close. Sure enough, they were rewarded when Ed Joyce hung onto a catch at short leg to remove the dangerous Michael Brown off Styris' medium pace.

Although a nightwatchman emerged for the last few balls, Alan Richardson immediately had the other Hampshire opener caught behind, forcing Simon Katich to make his way to the crease after all. The home side now have a lead of 24 with 8 wickets remaining, but Middlesex must severely limit Hampshire's second-innings total because Shane Warne is not an attractive prospect in the fourth innings.

Day 1:

4 wicket hauls for Scott Styris and Alan Richardson put Middlesex in a good position at the end of day one.

Having got an early wicket, Middlesex had a while to wait before the next dismissal and the victim was ex Middx batsman Michael Brown (51). Katich fell immediatle after before Kevin Pieterson was caught for a duck. John Crawley (84) offered resistance, assisted by Dimitri Mascarenhas (34) but it wasn't enough to stop Hants being all out for 275

Middlesex only had to face 6 overs. They did so without drama, finishing on 9/0 at stumps

Please click here for the scorecard for this match

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS

• Think you know your sport? Click here to try the Sportnetwork Prize Quizzes