Day 2:

Worcestershire finished the 2nd day of the LV= County Championship match at New Road against Hampshire in a strong position thanks mainly to star performances by Vikram Solanki and Alan Richardson.

Solanki who was 99* overnight completed his 28th First Class century with the first ball he faced on the second day. Solanki looked in majestic form, completing his third century partnership of the innings, this time with Shakib Al-Hasan who made 54 before being caught in the slips by Jimmy Adams off the bowling of Dominic Cork with the new ball.

Cork picked up the only other wicket of the morning session, again to a slip catch, this time to Neil McKenzie dismissing Gareth Andrew. Worcestershire reached the lunch break on 377-6 with Solanki on 163*.

Shortly after lunch Worcestershire earned their maximum batting points when they passed 400, Solanki was out soon after for 173 at which point Worcestershire declared on 403-8. Solanki's innings lasted for 272 deliveries and contained 26 boundaries.

Hampshire lost a wicket in the first over of their reply with Liam Dawson caught by Ben Scott giving Alan Richardson his 400th career First Class wicket. Richardson took 1-34 in his first nine over spell as Hampshire reached the tea interval on 100-2. The only other wicket to fall in the session was in Gareth Andrew's first over where he trapped Michael Lumb LBW for 6.

After tea the rested Richardson came back for his second spell and took two vital wickets, both clean bowled. The first was Adams who had made 52 before playing a ball onto his stumps and in Richardson's very next over McKenzie was bowled for 37. From 115-4 the visitors staged a recovery with a 5th wicket partnership between James Vince and Nic Pothas. Richardson finished the day with figures of 3-52 from 15 overs.

The partnership between Vince and Pothas was worth 95 before Jack Shantry made the break through bowling Vince for 50. After a period where the Worcestershire bowlers did not keep up the pressure on Hampshire during the final session they came back well late in the session. After an indifferent spell bowling at the New Road end, Shakib Al-Hasan came back at the the Diglis end and picked up two wickets in two overs, both to slip catches to Daryl Mitchell. Dimitri Mascarenhas was the first to go for 7 to be replaced by a night watchman which did not prevent Hampshire losing the key wicket of Nic Pothas who was looking in a dangerous mood, dominating the bowling at times before being dismissed for 60. Hampshire closed the day on 232-7 still 21 runs behind the follow on target.

Close of Play Day 2: Worcestershire 403-8. Hampshire 232-7.