Liam Dawson reached a major milestone, taking 50 wickets in a Vitality County Championship season for the first time, as Hampshire inched closer to a win over Worcestershire. Along with his bowling success, Dawson also contributed an eighth half-century this season, pushing Hampshire to a commanding position.
The all-rounder dismissed Kashif Ali and Adam Hose, surpassing his 49-wicket haul from last season. In fact, no other spinner in Division One has taken more wickets than Dawson in 2024. His 51-run knock in the second innings brought his season total to 907 runs, while setting Worcestershire a daunting target of 394 to win.
By the end of the day, Worcestershire were struggling at 117 for 5, still 277 runs away from victory. However, Jake Libby was holding firm on 55, keeping his side’s slim hopes alive.
With Hampshire’s title bid thwarted by Surrey’s win over Durham and Worcestershire already safe from relegation, both teams are now playing for pride and final positions in the standings.
Hampshire’s second innings, despite being somewhat erratic, managed to set a formidable total. Joe Leach, in fine form with the ball, played a key role in restricting Hampshire, taking 3 for 17 and bowling six maidens in his first two spells. The retiring 33-year-old proved his class by dismissing Hampshire’s top three, though none of the wickets were textbook dismissals.
Toby Albert was caught behind down the leg side early in the morning, followed by Fletcha Middleton, who fell to a caught-and-bowled after playing across one. Double centurion Nick Gubbins was caught at slip after the ball glanced off the wicketkeeper’s glove, and Ben Brown was trapped lbw by Amar Virdi.
James Vince kept the score ticking with a flashy yet inconsistent 44 before he dragged a sweep shot onto his stumps off Virdi’s bowling. After lunch, Tom Prest and Dawson launched an aggressive 72-run partnership at nearly a run-a-ball. Dawson, following his century and five-wicket haul in the first innings, reached a 63-ball fifty before being bowled by Logan van Beek.
Hampshire's innings quickly unravelled again as James Fuller edged behind, Prest was trapped lbw by Virdi, and both Kyle Abbott and Felix Organ were dismissed in quick succession, the latter run out after a mix-up with Mo Abbas. Virdi narrowly missed out on a 10-wicket match haul as Hampshire’s innings came to an end.
Worcestershire’s chase began poorly, with Gareth Roderick bowled by Abbott in the sixth over. Kashif Ali misread a Dawson delivery and was trapped lbw, while two superb slip catches by Vince removed Rob Jones and Adam Hose. Hose’s wicket was Dawson’s 50th of the season, a remarkable achievement.
Libby fought valiantly, reaching his 47th first-class fifty, though not without drama. In his attempt to reach the milestone earlier, he ran out his partner Brett D’Oliveira. Eventually, Libby brought up his half-century with a cautious single off 106 balls, remaining unbeaten at stumps with Ethan Brookes alongside him.
Worcestershire now face a tall order, needing 277 more runs with five wickets in hand.