Rain halts Warwickshire quest

Drakes made his presence felt on the third day

County Championship Division Two, day three, Edgbaston: Warwickshire 455
Hampshire 170 & 114-4
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Vasbert Drakes made his first wicket-taking contribution as Warwickshire threatened to beat Hampshire by an innings in the Second Division of the Cricinfo County Championship.

The West Indian fast bowler took the last two wickets when Hampshire were dismissed for 170 in their first innings and one more in their struggle to 114 for four after following on 285 behind.

They still needed 171 to make Warwickshire bat again when steady rain put the brakes on the home side's victory charge 40 minutes after lunch.

Double strike

Drakes removed James Hamblin with wicket-keeper Keith Piper's fourth catch of the innings and dismissed Neil Johnson for 43 with neat take at slip by Dominc Ostler to end Hampshire's first innings.

New-ball partner Alan Richardson was first to strike in the second innings when Piper held a thin edge from Giles White, and when Drakes switched ends, Will Kendall steered his third ball to Ostler at first slip.

Hampshire finally found some resolve with Derek Kenway's 52 until Dougie Brown broke his stand with Robin Smith.

The Scot claimed two wickets in three balls. Kenway and Johnson (0) both found Ostler at first slip.

The rain then arrived with Smith unbeaten on 4.

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Warwickshire: M J Powell (Capt), N V Knight, M A Wagh, D L Hemp, D P Ostler, D R Brown, N M K Smith, V C Drakes, M A Sheikh, K J Piper (Wkt), A Richardson.

Hampshire: D A Kenway, G W White, W S Kendall, R A Smith (Capt), N C Johnson, J P Stephenson, A N Aymes (Wkt), A D Mascarenhas, A C Morris, J R C Hamblin, A D Mullally.