Hampshire holds out for a draw as Gubbins frustrates Lancashire
Nick Gubbins batted throughout the final day to ensure that Hampshire and Lancashire drew their Vitality County Championship fixture at the Utilita Bowl.
Gubbins added an unbeaten 69 to his first-innings 50 in a four-and-a-half-hour vigil, nullifying any threat of a Hampshire collapse and a result. James Vince and Tom Prest were equally resolute in their resistance.
Lancashire earned one point, while Hampshire earned 12. Both teams overcame the effects of rain on their opening games, resulting in more shared points.
Lancashire's record of not losing a first-class away match at Hampshire extended to 35 years, with the last home success coming at Portsmouth in 1989.
Lancashire's hopes of forcing a quick result by blowing away Hampshire were dashed by a morning rain shower that left the run-ups temporarily unusable.
24 overs were lost from the previous day. The visitors aimed to take the final eight wickets to avoid a draw in strong winds.
George Bell expressed his excitement for fielding at short leg to Nathan Lyon, despite being in the firing line for the angle the ball is turning. His wish to share a line on the scorecard with the legendary Australian spinner was granted when nightwatcher Kyle Abbott clipped the 16th ball of the day to the 21-year-old under the helmet.
The hosts' chance of collapsing from that point ended with Gubbins and Vince occupying the crease for the next two hours, and in Gubbins' case, beyond.
Lyon claimed three first-inning wickets in 38 overs and tried everything to spark a flurry of wickets with the Kookaburra ball. He teased Vince with a variety of flights, tempting the Hampshire skipper to almost hole out to long on, flirting with front pads and creating his own rough at both ends of the pitch so he had a spot to aim at wherever he bowled. His battle with Vince also saw the batsman take a sweep off the bottom edge. The ball trickled past his stumps.
Finally, Lyon turned to Bazball for inspiration and attempted to switch the bails, but this specific magic can only be conjured by Stuart Broad.
The Lancashire tricks of a 7-2 leg-side field and Tom Bailey's bowling spin to the left-handed Gubbins and his usual pace to the right-handed Vince also failed to produce results.
Vince and Gubbins showed their vast Championship experience with a steadfast 66-run partnership. Both players scored half-centuries in the first innings, but Vince was unable to reach the milestone in the second innings as Lyon dismissed him lbw in both innings.
Gubbins scored two centuries the last time Lancashire played at the Utilita Bowl in 2019. This time, he achieved two half-centuries in 135 balls.
Tom Prest, another batsman who scored a half-century in the first innings, continued the good work of Vince. He was not afraid to hit short deliveries for sixes and remained not out on 45.
20 April 2024, 22:31