County Championship: Hampshire v Lancashire ends in expected draw

Nick Gubbins batted out the final day as Hampshire secured a draw in their County Championship match against Lancashire at the Utilita Bowl.

Gubbins added an unbeaten 69 to his first innings 50 in a four and a half hour vigil to end any chance of a Hampshire collapse and a result, with James Vince and Tom Prest equally stubborn in their resistance as the hosts finished on 179-4.

Lancashire picked up 13 points to Hampshire's 12.

Any hopes Lancashire had of forcing a result by blowing away Hampshire quickly were dashed by rain which meant no play was possible in the morning.

In all 24 overs were lost from the day before the visitors set about trying to take the final eight wickets in strong winds.

Nightwatchman Kyle Abbott clipped the 16th ball of the day to George Bell at short leg, but Gubbins and Vince proved harder to shift.

Nathan Lyon, who had claimed three first-inning wickets in 38 overs, tried everything to spark a flurry of wickets, even switching the bails as Stuart Broad did so memorably in the Ashes last summer, but without joy.

Tom Bailey tried bowling spin to the left-handed Gubbins and his usual pace to the right-handed Vince but was also unable to spark a breakthrough as the experienced pair put on a 66-run partnership.

Lyon finally got his man when he trapped Vince lbw for 33, but Gubbins continued to his half-century, which came in 135 balls.

Prest continued where Vince had left off, albeit in rather more aggressive fashion, hitting two sixes in his unbeaten 45.

The inevitable handshakes came at 4.50pm, after a short rain delay, to signal the draw.

Report supplied by the ECB Reporters' Network.