Bell makes duck as Warwicks draw

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Rose Bowl:
Warwickshire 484-7 dec and 23-2 drew with Hampshire 505-9 (Warwicks 11pts, Hants 11pts)

Match scorecard

Bell was also out for just seven in Warwickshire's first innings

England hopeful Ian Bell was out for a duck in Warwickshire's second innings as their clash with Hampshire at the Rose Bowl ended in a tame draw.

Bell was bowled by Imran Tahir as the Bears reached 23-2 on the final afternoon before a halt was called.

Earlier, Hampshire's Michael Carberry was eventually out for a career-best 204, having resumed unbeaten on 183.

Sean Ervine also hit 82 as the hosts, 309-1 overnight, advanced to reach 505-9 in reply to the Bears' 484-7.

At that stage a draw was already inevitable, with Warwickshire unable to gain anything from batting for a second time.

But after Tahir had also accounted for Tony Frost, Bell, expected to replace the injured Kevin Pietersen in the England Test team to face Australia at Edgbaston next week, was left with the uncomfortable task of batting out time before the teams shook hands.

Instead he headed back to the pavilion with 10 minutes left after losing his off stump to Tahir, who finished with figures of 2-2 from seven overs.

It was a disappointing way for the game to end for Bell, who only made seven in the first innings of a match in which he saw team-mates Jonathan Trott and Chris Woakes both make centuries and Carberry a maiden double ton.

In passing 200 for the first time, Carberry also beat his previous best of 192 not out, also made against Warwickshire in 2007.

His innings finally came to an end when he drove Naqaash Tahir to Rikki Clarke at point.

Ireland's Boyd Rankin (3-117) was the most impressive of the Warwickshire bowlers and dismissed Michael Lumb, John Crawley and Liam Dawson.

He also gave the home side a scare when he hit captain Dimitri Mascarenhas on the grill with a bouncer, forcing him to retire hurt.

But Mascarenhas and Hampshire insist he will be fit to play in Saturday's Friends Provident Trophy final against Sussex at Lord's.

When Woakes dismissed Tom Burrows Hampshire were 387-6, but Ervine and Chris Tremlett (28) added 74 for the seventh wicket.

Their stand was ended when Tremlett was bowled by Ant Botha, who then took the catch to dismiss Imran Tahir off Ian Westwood.

And Hampshire's innings eventually came to an end with a little piece of history when Ervine was caught by Westwood at mid-off to give Frost the first wicket of his 12-year professional career.