Exciting finish in prospect at Lord's

[isabel]

An exciting finish is in prospect after Hampshire captain Shane Warne declared twenty runs behind the Middlesex first innings total; after Middlesex had reached 146-2 he came off the field briefly to see Middlesex captain Scott Styris after which Crawley and Benham were brought into the attack to replace recognised bowlers. More of the same is likely on the fourth morning before Hampshire are set an agreed target to chase.

[kenneth]

A match which started the final day with a draw a distinct possibility, twisted first one way towards Middlesex and then towards Hampshire when Shane Warne led a late assault on the bowling before stumps were drawn with the visitors 47 short of their target. It was an extremely spirited performance by Middlesex, but it was unfortunate that they lost one and a half points from the eleven gained in the match due to a slow over rate when they were striving to bowl Hampshire out.