Brave Adams fails to save Hampshire

Round-up

Jimmy Adams amassed a superb 194 off 507 balls against Lancashire at Liverpool yesterday, but his efforts were not enough to see relegation-threatened Hampshire stave off defeat.

The left-hander batted for 10 hours and 35 minutes, recording the longest innings of the summer and making the hosts sweat for a victory that had looked a near certainty at the start of the final day.

Adams shared a last-wicket partnership of 88 inside 43 overs with Danny Briggs (15 not out off 97 balls) to help post a second-innings total of 405 and set Lancashire 168 to win in 33 overs after tea. Adams' innings was the longest in both minutes and balls this season, beating Mark Ramprakash's 564-minute 223 off 395 balls for Surrey against Middlesex in May.

Left-arm swing bowler James Tomlinson then took three quick wickets to reduce Lancashire to 17 for 3 in the sixth over of their chase. But a determined 79-ball 51 from Shivnarine Chanderpaul took his side to the brink before Mark Chilton hit the winning runs off Dominic Cork with one ball and three wickets to spare.

Promising Lancashire all-rounder Tom Smith recorded figures of 6 for 94 from 41 overs to clinch career-best match figures of 9 for 134 in 53 overs.

Lancashire take 22 points and Hampshire two from this thrilling contest. The visitors are third bottom, with rivals Kent and Warwickshire still to play.