Hampshire second XI clinched the ECB National Championship in the second day's play against Warwickshire, with a typically high quality batting performance, to pick up maximum batting points.

Needing eight points from the game to reach an unobtainable total at the top of the National pile ahead of Yorkshire, Hampshire passed 300 with just five wickets down to ensure they took the four points, having taken the full four points on the first day in bowling the opposition out for 213.

The second team put together another fine display, eventually declaring on 446-9, with four batsmen passing fifty.

Nightwatchman Irfan Shah was the star of the morning session; having survived the previous evening, he showed what a talented player he is, smashing 88 runs from 120 balls, but falling just short of his first century at this level, when he was out prior to lunch.

Andy Sexton had played second fiddle to Shah, but compiled a very tidy 55, his sixth half-century on the bounce for Hampshire. He was out caught at second slip, with the score at 182-4, and this was soon 182-5 as Damien Shirazi got a good ball from Tom Mees.

Skipper John Stephenson and Shah responded very well, though, putting on a further 60 before Shah's dismissal. James Hamblin (37) replaced Shah after lunch and he played aggressively with his captain, taking the total to 332. Stephenson looked well set before he was brilliantly caught and bowled for 71. Iain Brunnschweiler (51*) and James Schofield (38) pushed the score passed the 400 mark and prompted the declaration.

Simon Francis picked up an early wicket as the home side bowled 16 overs before the end of play. Warwickshire 40-1.

© Hants CCC