MANCHESTER—Fast bowler Tino Best grabbed his 13th five-wicket haul in first class cricket but Hampshire were still facing an uphill task against Lancashire, heading into today’s penultimate day of their County Championship encounter at Old Trafford.
The 34-year-old former West Indies speedster, in only his second game for the visitors, finished with five for 90 as Lancashire were dismissed for 456 after resuming the day on 157 for one. At the close yesterday, Hampshire were 22 for one, still requiring a further 325 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
Hampshire’s woes began on Sunday’s opening day when they were dismissed cheaply for 109, and their misery continued on the second day when Luke Procter struck his second first class hundred and South African Alviro Petersen and opener Haseeb Hameed gathered half-centuries.
Procter, unbeaten on 48 overnight, made 137 and added 173 for the second wicket with Hameed who made 62 and a further 123 for the third wicket with Petersen who stroked 81.
Lancashire were cruising towards a massive total at 349 for two when Best intervened with a superb spell, taking four consecutive wickets as the hosts slid to 378 for six in the space of just 46 deliveries. Right-armer Best accounted for Procter and Petersen, and also removed captain Steven Croft cheaply for 12 and Liam Livingstone without scoring.
Batting a second time, Hampshire lost opener Jimmy Adams without scoring.
Best was signed by Hampshire less than a month ago as a replacement for fellow Barbadian Fidel Edwards, who broke his ankle while warming up on the final morning of their clash with Yorkshire last month.
