Glen Chapple and Kyle Hogg give Lancashire edge
Last updated on .From the section Counties
| LV County Championship Division One, Liverpool |
| Close, day one: Lancashire 337-7 v Hampshire |
| Lancashire 3pts, Hampshire 2pts |
| Match scorecard |
| Live commentary |
Glen Chapple and Kyle Hogg put on an unbroken 99 for the eighth wicket to give Lancashire the edge after day one of their crucial game with Hampshire.
Bottom-of-the-table Hampshire looked set to justify captain Jimmy Adams' decision to put Lancashire in by reducing the title hopefuls to 125-5.
Tom Smith rebuilt with 63 before home captain Chapple hit a season's best 76 not out and Hogg an unbeaten 47.
They helped Lancashire reach 337-7 before bad light ended play early.
Chapple lost his eighth home toss of the campaign for Lancashire to be put in but he saw his side make a solid start despite losing Stephen Moore and Karl Brown in the first 15 overs.
Paul Horton and Luke Procter shared 57 in 22 overs for the third wicket, but Sean Ervine (3-66) had Horton caught down the leg-side just after lunch to spark a mini-collapse.
Ervine then bowled Steven Croft off his gloves for a golden duck before James Tomlinson saw Procter play on.
Smith added 58 for the sixth wicket with Gareth Cross before adding 55 with Chapple, who hit Chris Wood for two fours and a six in the second over after tea.
Chapple continued the assault with Hogg after Smith top-edged Ervine to Dimitri Mascarenhas at long-leg to leave Lancashire in a promising position.
CLOSE OF PLAY SUMMARY
BBC Radio Lancashire's Liam Bradford:
"Lancashire showed the kind of grit and determination a side needs if they are to go on and win the County Championship title.
"It was all Hampshire through the morning and afternoon sessions and the hosts at one stage were reduced to 125-5. But brilliant performances firstly from Tom Smith (63), Kyle Hogg (47 not out) and latterly from the Lancashire skipper Glen Chapple (76 not out) meant that the Red Rose closed the first day very handily placed on 337-7.
"This Lancashire batting performance had all of the classic elements. Quick wickets lost, a re-stabilization and a brilliant solo effort to put the home side at an advantage going into the second day.
"Chapple's highest score since May 2009 and a good 99-run eighth-wicket partnership means that this game is wide open. Cricket? Boring? Lancashire still have both eyes fixed firmly on the prize that's evaded them for 77 years."
