karlpejera: County Championship round-up: Chris Woakes leads rout of Hampshire

Huwebes, Agosto 18, 2011

County Championship round-up: Chris Woakes leads rout of Hampshire

? Warwickshire all-rounder takes career-best 7-20
? Somerset suffer washout at Nottinghamshire

Chris Woakes produced a career best seven-wicket performance to rout Hampshire and put Warwickshire on course for another significant victory in their Championship challenge as well as strengthen his claims for England selection in the forthcoming one-day series against India. The 22-year-old all-rounder took seven for 20 as Hampshire were all out for 141 after being put in at Edgbaston, although the Bears' batsmen also struggled to 96 for four before bad light forced an early close.

Woakes, who made a one-day debut for England in Australia last winter, has now taken 45 wickets in only eight Championship appearances this summer at an average of less than 18, in addition to making several appearances for the England Lions.

Lancashire, who began their match nine points ahead of Warwickshire having played a game more, are also well placed to capitalise on the inactivity of the leaders, Durham, and further frustrate the fourth of the title contenders, Somerset, who suffered a washout of the second day of their home game against Nottinghamshire.

Worcestershire's lower order resisted skillfully on the second morning at Blackpool, with Gareth Andrew hitting 61 and Ben Scott an unbeaten 65. But Sajid Mahmood polished off the last three wickets to secure a first-innings lead of 80 for Lancashire and they have already extended that to 247 thanks to a stylish unbeaten half-century from Karl Brown. Glen Chapple had been the pick of the Lancashire bowlers with four for 47 until he suffered a groin injury but the captain hopes to be fit to bowl in Worcestershire's second innings.

Middlesex, who have taken a narrow first-innings lead against Kent at Canterbury, have strengthened their squad for the closing stages of the Division Two promotion battle by signing the off-spinner Ollie Rayner on loan from Sussex for the rest of the season.