Aymes holds up tourists

Hampshire 192 and 302-5 West Indies 696-6 dec Match drawn

Hampshire successfully batted out the final day's play at Southampton as the West Indies' latest tour game petered out into a draw.

A fourth consecutive innings defeat looked likely as Hampshire threatened to collapse in the afternoon session. Rajindra Dhanraj took the wickets of Paul Terry, John Stephenson and Tony Middleton, to reduce Hampshire to 230 for 5.

But Kevan James and the wicketkeeper Adrian Aymes dug in and shared in a partnership of 77 in 38 overs.

Hampshire started well with openers Jason Laney and Paul Terry sharing in a stand of 61 off only 10 overs before Laney cut lazily at a short ball from Andy Cummins and was caught at backward point.

Terry, displaying good timing and placement, reached his half-century off 69 balls but was out shortly before lunch, caught behind pushing forward to a ball which bounced more than he expected.

Hampshire looked unsteady when Matthew Keech and Middleton were dismissed in quick succession but, with most of the West Indian first choice bowling attack either injured or being rested, James and Aymes successfully played out the remaining overs and the game meandered to a finish half an hour early.