Hampshire v Durham: Day four lunch
DURHAM'S slim hopes of a victory over Hampshire have all but disappeared on the final day as Hampshire have extended their lead to 251 without the loss of a single wicket this morning.
Despite a ridiculously tight spell from Dale Benkenstein, who conceded one run in nine overs, Durham have not been particularly threatening and Hampshire were content to block everything for the first hour or so.
Nevertheless, the mistakes in the field have once again been costly and Ian Blackwell's shout of disgust when Chris Rushworth dropped Michael Lumb on 10 was a very public recrimination for the youngster.
Rushworth, who is on for the injured Callum Thorp (thigh strain) should have held on to the ball running in from the square leg boundary, but failed to hold on to it, despite getting both hands on the ball. It was the second time in the match Lumb has been dropped.
Michael Carberry has also been dropped for the second time this morning, although Liam Plunkett did well to get a hand to the ball. Diving back over his head, he got one hand on the leather, but couldn't quite grip it as he fell back down to earth. It was the fifth time a Durham fielder has failed to take a catch in the match, although it was probably the hardest of the lot.
As the game moved away from Durham, Hampshire have gone on the attack. Scott Borthwick has been given some heavy treatment, smashed for three sixes, while Blackwell went for two in one over.
Borthwick has not bowled for more than a month because of injury and it has showed. He has bowled far too short, with the odd full toss thrown in, and it has been far too easy for Hampshire's batsmen to score runs.
There has been a little bit of rain, but not the heavy stuff forecasted so far and we have only lost three overs so far. The way things are going, Durham will be grateful to see it. Carberry is on 79 and Lumb on 52.
