Hampshire keep hopes alive with Riverside victory

Hampshire gained their second championship victory of the season when they defeated Durham (for the second time) by 6 wickets with some 14 overs to spare.

Two early morning declarations, a circumstance of two captains, determined to make something of a game ransacked by the weather.

In the early play Simon Katich reached the milestone of 1000 first-class runs for his adopted county. He may have been a little embarrassed to have achieved this with a pull off makeshift bowler Adi Aymes, but no less a mean achievement.

Simon Brown took the wicket of Giles White first ball of the innings, having him caught at forward short leg, after setting Hampshire 291 to win in a minimum of 91 overs. This gave him his 500th first-class wicket for Durham.

The early success was however short lived as the home bowlers toiled. Jason Laney and Will Kendall stroked the ball well in a partnership of 98 that was broken just after Laney had reached 50, adjudged lbw to Brown. Kendall and skipper Robin Smith then put together a century stand, when on the stroke of tea; Smith was lbw falling into a straight one from Killeen.

After tea, Kendall now partnered by Lawrence Prittipaul powered his way to his century. Prittipaul was out for a sparkling 35 as Hampshire coasted to their clean sweep over Durham in all competitions this season.

Kendall's century included 16 fours; it was his second of the season and his fifth for Hampshire.

The victory keeps alive Hampshire's slim hopes of retaining their first division status. Durham whose hopes were perhaps higher, now have just the match against Surrey at The Oval next week to salvage their season.