BASINGSTOKE

(day three of four; Durham won toss)

Lunch

Hampshire, 203 for six at lunch, need 37 more to beat Durham

If, against all odds, Hampshire were to upset Durham by getting the 240 they need to win this afternoon it would transform the season for both clubs and a number of others hoping either for the LV County Championship title or to avoid relegation to the second division. With every run warmly and optimistically applauded by an excited collection of North Hampshire supporters they got closer and closer on a tense, warm, cloudy morning, losing only one wicket in dramatic contrast to their loss of five wickets for no runs in the first innings.

Sean Ervine rode some luck but batted with gumption and determination on an easing pitch to make his highest first-class score of the season. He had two valuable partners. The genuinely promising 18 year old Liam Dawson got well forward to the quick bowlers, left the ball better than some of his senior colleagues and occasionally played cleanly through extra cover off the back foot, a sign of true ability. Having reached his highest first-class score to date he danced out to Paul Wiseman's belatedly introduced off-spin and glanced straight into Dale Benkenstein's hands at leg slip.

Dimitri Mascerenhas, knowing a third Championship victory would probably keep Hampshire in the first division, followed his attacking instincts. Dropped by Callum Thorp off Wiseman at deep, wide mid-on when 10, he was 21 not out at the interval with Ervine 76 not out. Throughout he has driven well through extra and played with authority off his legs. But the worm had turned: Mark Davies and, in particular, Graham Onions, beat him more than once and edges flew short or wide Onions had him caught behind off a no-ball as well as seeing Shivnarine Chanderpaul drop a straightforward edge at first slip in his second over when Dawson had made 19.

Still anyone's game but this is going to be the acid test for Durham. If Hampshire get home - and should Notts, strongly placed at Hove, also win, Benkenstein's side might have to beat both Lancashire at home next week and Somerset at Taunton the week after.

Result

Hampshire beat Durham by two wickets

A tense and ultimately rousing run pursuit by Hampshire, with the former Zimbabwe Test batsman Sean Ervine in the hero's role, has transformed their season and administered a severe but not necessarily fatal blow to Durham's dreams of a first LV County Championship title. Their two wicket win against longish odds, secured with a push through the covers by Imran Tahir eleven overs after lunch on the third day, has resounded well beyond this intimate club ground where Robin Smith scored six centuries and Andy Roberts once knocked a helmetless Colin Cowdrey unconscious with his 'quicker' bouncer.

Mark Davies took two more wickets after lunch to finish with eleven in the match including Mascerenhas bowled by a ball that left him sharply off the pitch but Ervine, who put his innings down to a new bat and the confidence that came from signing a new two year contract last week, survived some more playing and missing to win the day.

Hampshire would be safe if they beat Surrey at the Brit Oval next week whereas Durham will surely have to win at least two of their remaining games, at home to Lancashire and Sussex, away to Somerset and Kent at home next week and Somerset at Taunton the week after to be confident of winning the title for the first time.

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