MCA accepts conditions in bid to regain IPL final

The Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) managing committee has decided to adhere to all the conditions put in place by the IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal, in a follow-up to MCA chief Sharad Pawar's letter asking why the IPL final was taken away from Mumbai. While the MCA vice-president Ravi Savant said it will respect all the conditions imposed by the IPL authorities, Biswal clarified that the IPL has not set any riders on the MCA for the June 1 final to be re-allotted to the Wankhede stadium.

"The managing committee has decided to accept all the conditions, including ensuring seating arrangements for all franchise owners. Since a playoff is their match, they can invite whosoever they want. We can't have a say in it. The reply to that effect has been sent to the IPL chairman," Savant said after the MCA managing committee met for the second time in four days after the IPL authorities moved the final from Wankhede Stadium to the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

However, Biswal told ESPNcricinfo that the question of re-allotting the final to Mumbai does not arise.

"Whether I will respond to the MCA letter or not depends on the contents of the letter," Biswal said. "But I can confirm that I had only explained the reasons for which the decision to move the final to Bangalore was taken. We hadn't put any riders in the last letter. Also, so far we have not received any formal request to re-allot the final to Wankhede."

After discussing the issue, the MCA managing committee has decided to put in a formal request to the IPL to not deviate from the tradition of letting the home ground of the defending IPL champions to host the final and not deprive fans in Mumbai from witnessing the marquee clash. "Once we have decided to fulfill all the conditions, we hope that the IPL would bring the final back to Mumbai," Savant said.

In his reply to MCA on May 13, a copy of which is with ESPNcricinfo, Biswal had cited 14 reasons to take the final away from Mumbai. The main reasons cited by Biswal included permission to be given for temporary hospitality structures or removal of seats in the Garware pavilion, 85% parking space to be reserved for the IPL, removal of restriction for any owners of IPL teams including Shah Rukh Khan, permission for sound and fireworks post 10pm until the presentation ceremony is completed and that the cost of police security should be in line with other locations at Rs 15-20 lakh per game (Mumbai police charge Rs 50 lakh per game).

If the final returns to Mumbai, the five-year ban imposed on Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh in May 2012 will have to be done away with. MCA had banned him following a spat with MCA officials after the game between Mumbai and Knight Riders at Wankhede on May 16, 2012.

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SC to announce IPL probe panel on Friday

The Supreme Court is expected to announce on Friday afternoon the committee that will investigate the IPL corruption issue. The order will be read out in open court and there will be no hearing of the case; the next hearing is scheduled for September, after the committee completes its investigation.

At its hearing on April 22, the court had asked Justice Mukul Mudgal, whom it had asked to carry out the original investigation, whether he would continue a more empowered and deeper probe into the matter. The Mudgal Committee report, submitted to the court on February 10, had included a sealed envelope that included the names of 13 people who, the committee said, should be investigated further, and this is what the court's new investigation will do. The committee said the identities of the individuals were not being disclosed because of the nature of the findings against them.

The Mudgal report formed the basis for the court's order on March 25 asking BCCI president N Srinivasan to stand down from his post to ensure a fair investigation. The court confirmed, on April 16, that one of the names in the sealed envelope was Srinivasan's, though it did not specify the context.

In agreeing to continue the investigation, Justice Mudgal listed specific agencies whose assistance he would require. They included the former CBI special director ML Sharma, one senior officer each deputed by the Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai Police, and a former India cricketer "of repute and integrity". He had also asked for further assistance from police authorities, the Sports Integrity Unit of CBI's anti-corruption branch and other departments or agencies of the central and state governments "as required".

The case dates back to June 2013, when the Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) secretary Aditya Verma raised charges of a conflict of interest in the BCCI's original two-member inquiry panel for the IPL corruption issue. A Bombay High Court ruling later termed the probe panel "illegal". The BCCI and the CAB filed petitions in the Supreme Court against this order, with the CAB contending that the Bombay High Court could have suggested a fresh mechanism to look into the corruption allegations.

The Supreme Court then appointed a three-member committee, headed by former High Court judge Mukul Mudgal and comprising additional solicitor general L Nageswara Rao and Nilay Dutta to conduct an independent inquiry into the allegations of corruption against Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, India Cements, and Rajasthan Royals team owner Jaipur IPL Cricket Private Ltd, as well as with the larger mandate of allegations around betting and spot-fixing in IPL matches and the involvement of players.

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From club to country for captain Morgan

Eoin Morgan will be in England mode next week with the start of the series against Sri Lanka, but first his focus is on helping Middlesex make a double-quick start to the NatWest T20 Blast

The refrain that England's stars have become disconnected from the county game is a familiar one. The start of the season has been a welcome exception and, before England return to the international treadmill, their stars will help to launch the NatWest T20 Blast.

And in the shortest format no current England player rivals Eoin Morgan for star quality. He will lead Middlesex when their T20 season begins against Essex at Lord's on Saturday - and then do the same against Sussex a few hours later. It is the first such double header in county history. "Saturday for us is going to be quite a huge event - not only for ourselves but for English cricket," Morgan said. "I know Middlesex are having a huge push."

The challenge of back-to-back games will be an unusual one, including quickly moving onto the next contest whatever the result of the first. "Going into the second game, we'll already have had a chance to have a bat and a bowl. But does that equalise the fact that we might be a little bit tired? We don't know."

But while Middlesex's T20 campaigns will begin rapidly, the tournament is a slow-burning affair: finals day takes place exactly 100 days after the matches begin. "The idea of the format this year is to get more bums on seats throughout the whole summer, as opposed to it being sporadic," Morgan said.

Other T20 leagues take a very different approach, being completed in a much tighter block and which has left others, including England, playing catch-up. "You could say that the IPL and Big Bash have taken the initiative and sort of raced ahead of most other countries in franchise cricket and they've reaped the rewards for it."

This year, though, the IPL is far from Morgan's mind: it is the first time he has begun the county season in England since 2009. And his county have given him the responsibility of captaining, when England commitments allow, in all limited-overs cricket.

The development feels significant, with uncertainty over the captaincy of the national side in both limited-overs formats - and a shortage of viable successors to Alastair Cook in Tests. Morgan's initial forays into captaincy have been marked by serenity and unusual tactical imagination, perhaps reflecting that he is an essentially self-taught cricketer. Few would argue with Morgan's assessment of his own captaincy: "calm" and capable of "making good decisions under pressure".

With Stuart Broad injured, Morgan will be able to showcase those attributes in the T20 international against Sri Lanka next week having previously led England five times. "The opportunity to captain the side is one that I'm looking forward to."

The expectation is that Morgan could imminently succeed Broad on a permanent basis, whose role is in doubt after disappointing performances in the World T20 tournaments. Morgan says only that "it'll be something that I think of" if offered, while, tellingly, admitting that he "was interested" in the job when Paul Collingwood's reign ended three years ago.

"It's something that I've enjoyed because I've had something to offer," Morgan said, speaking like the unusually self-assured 27-year-old that is. "Guys like Ben Stokes who have come in - I was captain when he debuted and then to watch him come through and play in the Ashes series from afar was awesome to see. You take great pride in awarding someone that - although you only play a minor part you're still involved in it."

For all the bluster about England's "new era", uncertainty provides the backdrop for the international summer ahead. Mushtaq Ahmed and Graham Gooch have already lost their jobs, and the make-up of the new set-up is in flux. "We still haven't got exact clarity on what's going on or who's doing what," Morgan admitted. "The sooner that happens the better, and the calmer and the quicker things can move on."

	David Warner is your typical example - he started in T20, got into the one-day side and the broke into the Test team. And the shots he was playing in the Test matches were unbelievable

In limited-overs cricket, Morgan's blend of calculation and panache make him immune from selectorial uncertainty. But in Tests the picture is rather more complicated. It is clear England have him in mind - Morgan would not have withdrawn from this year's IPL otherwise - and a century against Lancashire was "timely".

Whether that is enough to merit inclusion against Sri Lanka at Lord's on June 12 is a thorny question. Based strictly on first-class pedigree - Morgan averages under 35, and his previous first-class hundred came in August 2011 - he should not even be under consideration. Yet the notion of Morgan replicating his limited-overs brilliance in Tests evidently retains an allure for the selectors.

It has been 830 days since Morgan last played Test cricket. His 16 Tests, thus far, did not end happily: he mustered only 82 runs in six innings against Pakistan in the UAE before beginning ignominiously dumped. "It's professional sport - you're out of form or you're not performing you get dropped." With a middling career average of 30, Morgan did not have enough credit to fall back onto with the selectors: "I don't think it was harsh, looking back on it."

"If I played the series again I might have played a little bit differently. I could have been a lot smarter about how I played," he said. "Since I've played my last Test I'm a better cricketer for the fact that I've played more games and I've made more mistakes." He evidently believes that class transfers between formats, suggesting that Ian Bell could replicate Mahela Jayawardene's success in the shortest format if he returns to England's T20 side.

But it is an Australian that Morgan cites to show that cricketers can thrive in Test matches despite games that seem more suited to the short formats. "David Warner is your typical example - he started in T20, got into the one-day side and then broke into the Test team. And the shots he was playing in the Test matches were unbelievable."

If Morgan is able to imitate Warner's success dovetailing the demands of the three formats of the game, it will leave Ireland lamenting once more that they could have retained his talents. In theory, the ICC's new Test Challenge should help prevent a future Morgan from making the same decision. The reality, with a lack of scheduling space for any new Test nation, may be rather different. "Given the aspirations that I had as a kid, I'd probably still make the move."

Eoin Morgan was speaking at the launch of Yorkshire Tea National Cricket Week. On 2-6 June thousands of Chance to Shine schools all over the country will enjoy a week of cricket-themed activities in the classroom and playground. Visit www.chancetoshine.org to find out more.

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Warner to miss Zimbabwe tri-series

David Warner will miss Australia's one-day tour of Zimbabwe in August and September as he and fiancée Candice Falzon prepare for the birth of their first child.

Warner is currently in India for the IPL and after a home Ashes series, a tour of South Africa and a World T20 in Bangladesh, he wrote in a column for Cricket Australia's website that his "batteries are slowly draining". As a result, Warner will enjoy the extra time at home when the team flies out for the tri-series with Zimbabwe and South Africa, although it will be a busy time as he prepares to become a father.

"Candice and I have our baby coming in September, so it's fantastic to be able to have that time off," Warner wrote. "Since Darren Lehmann came on board as coach he's told us all that family comes first, and that's a big thing because we're on the road for a long time. So that any time a major personal matter crops up - whether it's a family member being sick, getting married or having a baby - the exemption is there for you.

"With the World Cup coming up next year and the fact that it's an ODI tri-series in Zimbabwe, I would normally immediately put my hand up for selection. That's because playing for Australia is what I've always wanted to do since I was a youngster and you never want to miss an opportunity. But that's what happens in life - you settle down, you get married and you have children."

Lehmann said Cricket Australia backed Warner's decision to skip the tour. "We are 100% supportive of David choosing to stay home and await the birth of his first baby," Lehmann said. "It is an important time in anyone's life and I am a firm believer that family comes first."

The tri-series is Australia's first international engagement after a rare winter without touring duties. Their series begins with a match against Zimbabwe in Harare on August 25 and ends in early September. Warner's focus will be to be ready for Australia's series against Pakistan in the UAE in October.

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PCB says six-series deal signed with India

Pakistan says it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the BCCI to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023. Four of those series will be hosted by Pakistan and the six tours - pending a legal agreement - will include up to 14 Tests, 30 ODIs and 12 T20s.

"We are working on chalking out a detailed FTP for eight years but meanwhile I can confirm that the MoU has been signed with India, according to which we will be playing six series," a top PCB official told ESPNcricinfo. "They will be hosting us twice while Pakistan will host them four times as a part of home series and further modalities will be confirmed later on."

There was no confirmation of this from the BCCI.

The move follows Pakistan's conditional support for the ICC revamp, which hinged on the promise of six series against India, including a 'home' series in the Gulf as part of an upcoming, reworked eight-year FTP cycle from 2015 to 2023. The change in the PCB's stance took place on the condition that Pakistan would be involved in bilateral series against all Full Members, including India. The first of these bilateral series could take place in the UAE in the winter of 2015.

India and Pakistan have not played a full series since the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, which India blamed on militants based across the border. However, Pakistan visited India for a short limited-over series in December 2012, which was regarded as a stepping stone in reviving cricketing ties between both countries.

The teams last played a full series in 2007, in India. However, despite the latest developments, given the sensitive relationship between the governments of the two countries, a fresh government NOC will be required before each series. India has just completed voting in its general elections with the results out on May 16; the BCCI is unlikely to proceed without the new government's green signal.

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Sangakkara applies sleeper hold to Sussex

Durham 451 for 7 dec. (Sangakkara 159, Borthwick 84) drew with Sussex 505 (Wright 189, Brown 163)
Scorecard

Watching Kumar Sangakkara make a hundred could never be described as a chore, even though some prefer the more delicate strokeplay of his long-time Sri Lanka batting buddy, Mahela Jayawardene. Sangakkara has a little bit more of the streetfighter about him and, although Hove is perhaps not a cauldron of enmity for visiting opponents, his grit was of material value to Durham as they quietly applied the sleeper hold to Sussex for their fourth draw of the season.

Paul Collingwood, Durham's captain, was happy to allow Sangakkara an extended centre-wicket practice session, having declined Sussex's offer of an innings forfeiture to set up a run chase. That would have meant Durham attempting to get 369 in 96 overs but Collingwood was happy to pursue a few more bonus points and preserve his team's unbeaten record - even if that means the champions remaining uncomfortably close to the bottom of Division One.

Mark Robinson confirmed that Sussex "wanted to have a game" but he was respectful of the polite snub. He was a little more perturbed about not being able to field Chris Jordan for the second match running. Jordan was ruled out of last week's trip to Old Trafford due to his involvement in the Scotland ODI and the ECB asked for him to sit out this match as well due to a concern about over-bowling.

Sussex have back-to-back T20 games at the weekend, before England's players link up again ahead of the Sri Lanka series. Jordan took part in a 2nd XI T20 fixture on Wednesday, specifically to practise his death bowling, and Robinson described him as a rhythm bowler who performs better when he is playing regularly, although he was pragmatic about the situation.

"Peter Moores is the England coach, he's trying to protect an asset, I want my asset playing here to win a game," he said. "The county game needs its best players playing, where possible. At times it won't be possible."

In Robinson's words, Sangakkara was "the biggest winner out of the day". His 159, spread over six hours and many more minutes in the dressing room while the rain fell on Tuesday, was his highest first-class score in England, surpassing two centuries for Warwickshire against Durham in 2007 and 153 in a tour match at Chelmsford three years ago. His only Test hundred in this country also came in 2011, a match-saving 119 in Southampton, and this short-term spell in county cricket has been aimed at improving on a mediocre record here.

He has been keen to express his gratitude to Durham for their part in the deal and the brief time spent sharing knowledge with young team-mates in the dressing room will doubtless have been beneficial. This innings was also the main plank in securing Durham four batting points - though they fell short of the maximum haul during the 11-ball scramble for eight more runs that followed his dismissal.

There was much for a generous-minded crowd to applaud when Sangakkara finally fell on the stroke of tea, reward for Steve Magoffin, who had seen him dropped in the slips on 20 the previous day. Sangakkara had steadily grown in fluency, with his first fifty taking 116 balls (and being completed around 24 hours after his innings began); the next took 76 and the final 55.

Sangakkara now has a few grey strands in among his black tousled hair - perhaps that was why Scott Borthwick referred to him as a "cricket badger" after their century stand on the third day - and this was a wise old knock. Every time he was beaten, or dropped the hands to nullify an edge, he recalibrated his batting senses and got back on with the job at hand. Luke Wright was breezily flicked for six, Ashar Zaidi clubbed a little more ruthlessly over the short, leg-side boundary. His footwork was sure and his striking, for the most part, crisp.

His partnership with Collingwood was worth 144 in less than 30 overs as Durham hit the accelerator after losing Scott Borthwick, for his overnight 84, and Michael Richardson. Collingwood unpacked his boxfresh cover drive again, at one point hitting six boundaries in 11 balls, though he had no regrets about declining Sussex's offer. "I thought it was a bit early in the season to go hunting for victories," he said.

His mood was further improved by the suggestion that Graham Onions' back problem may not be as bad as first feared. He said that the "scans look positive", after Onions' trip to see a specialist, and the seamer could be fit to play again after an injection.

Although the poor weather that sluiced away much of the previous two days was chiefly responsible for condemning this game to a draw, the pitch was a willing accomplice. By the end, Ben Brown was having his first-ever bowl in senior cricket, with Michael Yardy filling in behind the stumps. Without the sight of Sangakkara to enjoy, most joined the surface in nodding off to sleep.

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Vince steers Hampshire top of Division Two

Hampshire 345 (Carberry 66, Dawson 64, Allenby 4-67, Wagg 4-105) and 68 for 4 (Vince 29*, Smith 3-38) beat Glamorgan 224 (Wallace 67*, Ervine 3-36) and 187 (Bragg 74, Tomlinson 3-40, Abbott 3-43) by six wickets
Scorecard

James Vince eased Hampshire's nerves with a careful innings to steer them past a target of 67 against Glamorgan and send them top of the Division Two table.

Hampshire were given a straightforward chase but lost three wickets to the new ball, leaving Vince - surely in the form of his career so far - to play a careful innings and wrap up the win before lunch.

Glamorgan came into the final day with a lead of 64 but could only add two runs to that before James Tomlinson wrapped up their second-innings by removing Tom Helm. That left Hampshire a simple enough task and, while four wickets fell as they struggled with the new ball, an unbeaten 29 from James Vince steered them home.

Hampshire needed just 16 balls to end the Glamorgan innings as Tomlinson got Helm to edge to slip where Liam Dawson took a smart catch.

A target of 67 was never likely to cause the home side too many problems but captain Jimmy Adams was gone for a duck off the fourth ball of the innings as he was bowled by Ruaidhri Smith.

Opening partner Michael Carberry, who was named to the England limited-overs squad on Tuesday, was next to go for 14 as Stewart Walters took a fine diving catch in the slips off Smith, who took career-best figures of 3 for 38; his third wicket two balls later when he trapped Dawson lbw and reduced Hampshire to 27 for 3.

Glamorgan opener Gareth Rees then claimed his first wicket in any format as Walters caught Will Smith at mid-on as he was trying to hit over the top but Hampshire now needed just 11 runs to win.

And they had them in the next over as Vince finished the game off with back-to-back fours through extra cover to keep his average above 100 for the season and hand Hampshire their first home win of the campaign.

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Murtagh lifts Middlesex again

Middlesex 459 for 8 dec (Morgan 103, Malan 92, Rayner 77*) and 31 for 0 beat Lancashire 266 (Buttler 59, Smith 59, Dexter 6-63) and 223 (Prince 86, Buttler 50, Murtagh 6-60) by 10 wickets
Scorecard

English cricket would love to see Steven Finn bowling Middlesex to victory, but on the final day at Lord's it was Tim Murtagh who put in the defining performance to set up a 10-wicket victory, their third home win of the season to leave them third in the table.

At one stage before lunch, with Lancashire 45 for 5, it appeared Middlesex would be reflecting on a job well done sooner rather than later, but it was not until shortly before the final hour that they were able to wrap up a 10-wicket victory.

Ashwell Prince and Jos Buttler had given Lancashire hope of salvaging a draw, adding 117 for the fifth wicket to show that conditions were still perfectly good for batting, but Murtagh refused to yield during lengthy spells from the Nursery End in an exemplary display of swing and seam to finish with 6 for 60.

It led to glowing praise from his captain, Chris Rogers, who lauded him as one of the best bowlers he has led. "I thought that was outstanding in the second dig," Rogers said. "To get six, and when the game looked like it was drifting to get three in a spell that's outstanding. It showed why he is one of the best bowlers I've ever been lucky enough to captain.

"Just to be able to give him the ball and they tell you when they are done: it's exceptional to have and I'm very privileged to have him. We missed him when he went to play for Ireland last week which was disappointing but that's the way it goes."

Murtagh already had one wicket to his name overnight and resumed Middlesex's task of taking nine more when he removed nightwatchman Simon Kerrigan with a beauty early on. However, it was two wickets in the space of four balls moments before tea which revived the victory push when he had Buttler caught a first slip, three balls after he was dropped by John Simpson, and then found Tom Smith's outside edge, leaving Lancashire seven down at the interval.

Another frustrating stand began to form between Prince, who had been given a tough time by Finn in the afternoon but attacked the same bowler after tea when he dropped repeatedly short, and Glen Chapple which took Lancashire into the lead and ate up valuable time.

Again it was over to Murtagh, who was not rested before the second new ball, although his fifth wicket was given a considerable helping hand by Prince's horrid slash outside off which undid nearly four hours of concentration. When Chapple played across a full delivery from Toby Roland-Jones, Lancashire's chances of salvaging a draw had all but vanished and Murtagh's sixth wrapped up the innings leaving Middlesex 19 overs to complete the formalities.

Apart from a few dropped catches, Rogers could not pick holes in the performance. "This was almost a perfect game for us; win the toss, put them in and bowl them out then go a long way past them then bowl then out again - that's a perfect game," he said. "But we can get better, we dropped a few chances, and I do expect a lot of the guys.

His more immediate concern, however, was ensuring Middlesex improve their away record when they travel to Northamptonshire on Sunday, after twice being heavily beaten on the road, and also juggling the rapid change in formats which will now come with the start of the NatWest T20 Blast.

"It's a tough job and I don't know how it's going to work to be honest. There's a lot being asked of these guys and we'll need to be quite understanding of their loads."

Overall, it was a familiar tale for Lancashire. Their top-order batting is a serious threat to their chances of staying in Division One. Their average total at five wickets down this season has been 99 and while on some occasions, such as at Wantage Road, there were some mitigating circumstances, having the top order fail on a warm, sunny day at Lord's highlights the weakness.

They did have to contend with some fine bowling in the morning, and not just from Murtagh. Roland-Jones trapped Karl Brown for a duck and Finn earned an lbw against Paul Horton although the ball may have been sliding. There was no doubt about Luke Procter's wicket, brilliantly caught low down to his left by Simpson during one of Finn's more impressive spells of the match.

For Buttler it at least allowed him another backs-to-wall situation in which to show his ability to grind out an innings with his second half-century of the match, although if he walks in too many more times with his side in strife he may pine for the days of watching team-mates at Somerset pile on the runs.

When his footwork let him down, playing away from his body against Murtagh, only for his opposite number to palm away a regulation chance it just started to appear that he may help Lancashire escape, but Middlesex's perseverance held sway.

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Taylor, Wessels pull Notts back

Nottinghamshire 259 for 5 (Wessels 78*, Taylor 78) lead Northamptonshire 248 by 11 runs
Scorecard

James Taylor and Riki Wessels hit half-centuries as Nottinghamshire claimed a first-innings lead over Northamptonshire but with more time lost on a rain-hit third day at Trent Bridge, the contest appeared destined for a draw.

At the close Nottinghamshire were 259 for 5, 11 runs ahead, with Wessels unbeaten on 78. That was the same individual score as Taylor hit in leading Notts' recovery from 30 for 3.

They had slipped into trouble after wrapping up the visitors' first innings for 248 within 19 balls of the resumption. Maurice Chambers and Azharullah were the last men to fall, both to Andy Carter, for the addition of just seven runs to the overnight total.

Alex Hales, Phil Jaques and Michael Lumb all fell cheaply as Notts began their response. But Taylor, overlooked for England's limited-overs squads but still in contention for a Test spot, changed the momentum.

He put on 91 for the fourth wicket with Samit Patel, who made 30, and brought up his half-century amid a flurry of four boundaries in five balls.

His partnership with Wessels was also worth 91 when he fell lbw to spinner James Middlebrook after a 151-ball knock that included 11 fours.

Wessels kept up the pressure and had hit 11 fours and a six in his innings when the latest of several showers during the day's play brought an early close. Captain Chris Read was also unbeaten on 17 at stumps.

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Hampshire make their title pitch

Glamorgan 224 and 185 for 9 (Bragg 74, Abbott 3-43) lead Hampshire 345 by 64 runs
Scorecard

Both Hampshire and Glamorgan have identical records from their opening four County Championship fixtures but the nature of the respective matches and Hampshire's control of this contest suggests the two sides are destined for different ends of the table. Barring outrageously cruel circumstances, Hampshire will complete victory on day four and move top of Division Two.

Having taken a 115-run first-innings lead, Hampshire rattled off three wickets in 11 overs before lunch and, after a 98-run fifth wicket stand, took 3 for 4 before tea. But for a lengthy rain delay that cost 18 overs of the final session, the match was likely to end inside three days.

Hampshire have assembled the strongest squad in Division Two, with a proven batting line up and a bowling group now led by Kyle Abbott, who could prove the attack leader to take Hampshire to promotion. One day three he took his 17th wicket in his just his third full match of the season (the Surrey fixture was a rain-ruined non-event). The attack also includes Liam Dawson's useful left-arm spin. He sent down 15 overs on day three, conceded only 16 runs and removed Will Bragg and Graham Wagg. Hampshire also have depth with the very capable seamers David Balcombe, Raul Brathwaite and left-armer Chris Wood not playing here.

Balcombe played the first match of the season, where he and Hampshire struggled on a lifeless pitch against Worcestershire. But since then, they beat Gloucestershire well at Bristol and were in control of a rain-affected match at Derby. Essex could prove the main challengers for the Division Two title but it is difficult to see two other sides bettering Hampshire this season.

Their main opposition last year were the pitches at the Ageas Bowl, where only three results ensued, one of those a contrived chase that ended in defeat against Gloucestershire. Given more result wickets at home, and the pitch for this match has been conducive to a fair contest between bat and ball - Michael Carberry called it "encouraging" - and Hampshire have the tools to return to Division One.

Glamorgan have somewhat drifted the wrong way after an impressive opening round victory at The Oval - a result that is gaining more context with each Surrey performance. Rain saved them from defeat against Gloucestershire and they were not too far away from losing to both Worcestershire and Leicestershire.

It is no startling analysis to reveal that Glamorgan have struggled for runs; a common occurrence early-season but with their bowling attack performing well - the highlight being shooting Surrey out for just 81 - their batsman have failed to work them into good positions when opportunities have been presented.

Jacques Rudolph, the former South Africa Test batsman with bags of county experience chiefly with Yorkshire, has so far been an abject failure. Here he collected his sixth single-figure score in four matches. His two half-centuries at Leicester were only modest efforts on a pitch where the home side put up 500 in the first innings. Rudolph has not been the answer to Glamorgan's struggles at the top of the order. His dismissal on the third day was similar to his first-innings wicket: a stroke of little confidence from the crease and an edge behind the wicket.

Rudolph's opening partner, Gareth Rees, also collected his sixth single-figure score of the season, a duck as a full James Tomlinson delivery speared past him. Murray Goodwin played a hideous stroke just before lunch, driving to edge to a diving Carberry in the gully. Goodwin is yet to find the form of last season that triggered a contract extension.

When Goodwin fell, Glamorgan had lost three wickets with the score on 9 and a three-day defeat was looming large. But at least one of their top-order players is in steady form. Bragg made a match-saving 91 not out against Worcestershire and here compiled a 75-ball half-century with 10 boundaries that was a nod to his slightly boom or bust style. He is a strokemaker. Hampshire bowled a little straight at him.

Bragg and the more obdurate Jim Allenby added 98 for the fifth wicket, making progress that suggested Glamorgan could set a tricky target. It was even healthier at 158 for 4 until Stuart Walters leaned much too far outside off for a defensive stroke and edged to second slip.

Tea came at the wrong time for them. After the interval, Allenby added only four before being trapped lbw by Abbott and Bragg made only two more before edging Dawson to Michael Bates. With both batsmen dismissed within seven balls of each other, Hampshire were changing up gears again and Abbott removed Mark Wallace for a duck - Glamorgan would have banked on their dependable captain to boost their lead which at just 64 is currently far too slender to cause Hampshire any problems in the fourth innings.

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