Woakes takes seven wickets to fire up Bears title hopes

[dutchman]

LV County Championship Division One, Edgbaston

Close of play, day one: Hampshire 141, Warwickshire 96-4

Warwickshire 3pts, Hampshire 1pt



Young England hopeful Chris Woakes took a career best 7-20 against hapless Hampshire to fire up Warwickshire's County Championship title hopes.

Division One backmarkers Hampshire were bowled out for just 141 at Edgbaston, Warwickshire replying on 96-4 before rain had the final say.

Sean Ervine (36) and Dimitri Mascarenhas (33) were Hamspshire's main rungetters.

Varun Chopra then led the way for the Bears, hitting six fours in his 55.

The opener reached 1,000 runs in a season for the first time as Hampshire's seamers, including James Tomlinson, who took his first wickets in an injury-troubled season, chipped away without matching Woakes' impact.

But West Indies Test star Shivnarine Chanderpaul was caught at second slip for just a single on his Championship debut for Warwickshire.

With the selectors about to name their squads for the end-of-summer one-day internationals against Ireland and India, 22-year-old seamer Woakes picked a good time to surpass his previous best of 6-43 for England Lions against the West Indians in 2009.

He was helped by some first-morning juice in the pitch but some of Hampshire's troubles were of their own making as the first six wickets fell for just 57 inside 90 minutes.

Jimmy Adams smashed a loose delivery from Keith Barker to point and, although fellow opener Liam Dawson survived the early skirmishing, he was fourth out for 25, shouldering arms in a lively stint by Rikki Clarke.

By then Woakes was beginning to make inroads with two wickets in four balls, late movement accounted for both Michael Carberry and Neil McKenzie, who was working to leg when given out lbw.

James Vince then hooked to fine leg before he had scored to give Woakes 3-15 from his first 10-over spell.

Even when he was rested from the attack, he remained in the forefront of the action, holding a straightforward chance when Michael Bates guided a ball from Boyd Rankin to gully.

Warwickshire were held up by Ervine and Mascarenhas in a partnership of 64 in 17 overs before the return of Woakes after lunch.

His third ball swung in to bowl Ervine as the all-rounder played defensively and, in his next over, Mascarenhas was well caught by Clarke, diving to his right at second slip.

Chris Wood made a useful 18 until Woakes completed a second spell of 4-5 by taking the last two wickets in four balls.

That earned maximum bowling points for the Bears, who went into this round of fixtures just 17 adrift of leaders Durham.

[dutchman]

Bears fast bowler Chris Woakes stars with bat too

Chris Woakes followed up his career best bowling figures by top scoring for Warwickshire with an important 64 against Hampshire at Edgbaston.

Resuming on 96-4, the Bears had slid to 113-6 when Woakes came to the crease.

But, backed by 55 from keeper Tim Ambrose, Woakes helped Warwickshire total 250 - a healthy lead of 109.

The title-chasing Bears then made inroads by the close, Keith Barker taking three wickets as Hampshire finished on 163-4, leading by only 54.

LV County Championship Division One, Edgbaston

Close of play, day two: Hampshire 141 & 163-4, Warwickshire 250

[dutchman]

Vince century helps bottom side Hampshire stun Bears

Warwickshire's title hopes were dealt a big blow as they were routed for just 98 at Edgbaston to lose by 209 runs to bottom side Hampshire.

James Vince made an eye-catching 145 as Hampshire piled up 416 in their second innings, setting the Bears 308 to win.

But five top-order batsmen, four of them left-handers, all went for ducks.

James Tomlinson (4-13) and Chris Wood (3-36) each took wickets in successive balls to launch Hampshire's spectacular demolition job.

It was scant reward for Warwickshire's young England hopeful Chris Woakes, unbeaten on 23, who was the Bears' top scorer in both innings, as well as taking 10-123 in the match.

Vince's third Championship century, backed by 63 from Sean Ervine, set Hampshire on the way to only their second win of the season, fuelling hopes that they might yet escape the drop.

But it was the Hampshire bowlers who then turned the contest on its head in the space of 40 destructive overs after tea.

West Indies Test star Shivnarine Chanderpaul was the highest-profile casualty when caught fifth ball in the gully, to add to his first-innings contribution of one run on his Bears Championship debut.

But he was the third of five successive ducks on the card, Ian Westwood having lasted just four balls, while skipper Jim Troughton managed six deliveries - and Will Porterfield and Tim Ambrose both went first ball.

Varun Chopra then lost his balance on 19, allowing Michael Bates to complete a slick leg-side stumping to leave the Bears in tatters at 30-6.

The tail wagged slightly, first through Rikki Clarke, then Woakes, before Imran Tahir came on to polish off the last two wickets as Hampshire completed a three-day victory.

Warwickshire, who do at least have a game in hand, starting against Yorkshire at Headingley on Tuesday, have now dropped 25 points behind new Championship leaders Lancashire.

Hampshire are also in action the same day, with a crucial home game agaisnt relegation rivals Worcestershire.

LV County Championship Division One, Edgbaston: Hampshire 141 & 416 beat Warwickshire 250 & 98 by 209 runs

Hampshire 19pts, Warwickshire 5pts