Johnson weathers second storm to thwart Warwickshire

Those torsos reddened by Thursday's preview of summer had disappeared under fleecy swathes here yesterday, as Warwickshire sought the cold comfort of a first Championship victory for 2002. Blue skies did show themselves in time, although the home side remained under a cloud as Hampshire refused to adhere to their script.

Warwickshire failed to finish the job, just as they did when the sides met in Division Two here in April last year, a game notable for a match-saving century by Robin Smith that spanned eight-and-a-quarter hours during the Hampshire follow-on. Then, Hampshire had gone into the final day 171 behind with six wickets in hand.

Their predicament yesterday was not quite so severe, but given that they were still one run in aggregate arrears when their fifth wicket fell, it was still a position from which Warwickshire should have won. In the event, an unbroken partnership of 137 between Neil Johnson and Nic Pothas defied them.

Watching was not easy as the erstwhile sun-worshippers assembled in comforting huddles. The remains of an overnight downpour delayed play by an hour, but there were fewer construction workers disturbing the peace in the almost-ready Rea Bank stand. A pity, given that the Second Test on Thursday week is likely to arrive with tidy order only partially restored.

Then again, Hampshire were grateful to work without distractions as they tried to save a game that had gone away from them on Thursday, when Nick Knight and Alan Richardson took Warwickshire from a potentially modest first-innings total to one of impressive proportions.

This was how Hampshire came to be digging in, having scored more than 300 but still obliged to follow on. They began 50 short of making Warwickshire bat again and with their first three batsmen out. Hours of concentrated defence loomed ahead, and Johnson and Smith could not be blamed for setting about the task in grudging mood.

Smith, who had gone past 25,000 career first-class runs on Friday but taken a blow on the hand for his trouble when batting a second time in the evening gloom, wore a wary look. But on an unresponsive pitch the home bowlers rarely made much happen, even with the air heavy and damp, while the batsmen had seen enough not to be disconcerted by the odd ball that kept low. Smith scored only five in the hour before lunch; Johnson just nine.

Richardson, eager to add to Friday night's two successes, troubled Johnson occasionally but the predominant sound was that of straight bat blocking ball as further Warwickshire progress was denied.

A breakthrough came five overs into the second session when Ashley Giles, whose presence here has been seen as England's aberration, combined with the overlooked Ian Bell to end Smith's occupation. Bowling round the wicket into the rough on Smith's leg stump, Giles appealed with perhaps more hope than conviction for a bat-pad catch at short leg and was delighted to be answered in the affirmative.

When Lawrence Prittipaul was trapped at the crease by Melvyn Betts five overs later, having taken one on the helmet from the same bowler just before, Hampshire were five down and one run behind.

However, Johnson and Pothas, who had shared the biggest stand of Hampshire's first innings, proved a thorn in the home side's flesh again by repeating the trick. Johnson survived for four-and- three-quarter hours for his 74, while Pothas gathered 10 boundaries on his way to 71.