Adams ton leads Hampshire reply

Hampshire 234 for 5 v Essex 345
Scorecard

Jimmy Adams batted with great determination and concentration on his way to an unbeaten century on the second day of the County Championship Division One duel at Chelmsford. The left-hander opened the Hampshire innings and by stumps had resisted for five and a half hours to reach 113 in a total of 234 for 5 in reply to the visitors' total of 345.

He did suffer a few anxious moments against the new ball early on but remained unruffled as he provided the backbone of the innings. Adams adopted a cautious approach but when the bad ball arrived he usually dispatched it with confidence. He picked up 15 boundaries in his effort spanning 245 balls, and the docile nature of the pitch suggested he would continue to be a thorn in the side of the Essex bowlers tomorrow.

After Michael Carberry and Liam Dawson had fallen cheaply to David Masters and Graham Napier, neither reaching double figures, it was Neil McKenzie who helped Adams put the innings back on even keel. They added 103 in 25 overs for the third wicket before off-spinner Tom Westley got rid of McKenzie for 39, thanks to a fine catch by Masters who clung on to a fierce pull at midwicket.

Chris Benham hung around while scoring 21 in as many overs before a diving catch by wicketkeeper James Foster provided Maurice Chambers with success, and shortly afterwards Nic Pothas was caught by a diving Tim Phillips, substituting for Matt Walker who was nursing a pulled thigh muscle, in the slips.

But Adams remained a rock-like figure while surviving to fight another day. His effort might not have rated high in entertainment value but no-one could doubt his application and temperament.

Earlier paceman David Griffiths picked up two of the remaining Essex wickets after they had resumed the morning on 325 for 7. In removing Masters and Chris Wright he finished with a career-best return of 5 for 85 from 22 overs, while left-arm spinner Danny Briggs finished with 3 for 61.