COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Basingstoke:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Hampshire 421-5 dec & 41-2, Durham 320-7 dec
Hants 7pts, Durham 4pts
Match scorecard

Gordon Muchall hit 16 fours and a six in his unbeaten 140

A fifth-wicket stand of 176 between Gordon Muchall and Ben Stokes rescued Durham on day three against Hampshire at Basingstoke.

After Hampshire declared overnight on 421-5, James Tomlinson struck twice to help reduce Durham to 40-4.

But Muchall (140 not out) and Stokes (99) combined to repair the damage.

Scott Borthwick (54 not out) then added 102 with Muchall to allow Durham to declare on 320-7, 101 behind, with Hampshire reaching 41-2 at stumps.

In damp conditions, Durham struggled against the new ball in the morning session with Michael di Venuto, Michael Stoneman and Ian Blackwell all falling lbw and Dale Benkenstein edging David Balcombe behind.

606: DEBATE I've been critical of Muchall but he has played a blinder today captaincolly

Muchall, whose last century was in the early part of last season, was then joined by Stokes for the crucial stand, with Stokes only being denied a century by a tumbling catch from Sean Ervine.

Phil Mustard fell soon after with Durham still needing 56 to avoid the follow-on, but the seventh-wicket partnership between Muchall and Borthwick allowed the visitors to declare with 11 overs of the day remaining.

Ian Blackwell made the most of them, accounting for Jimmy Adams and Tomlinson, to leave Hampshire 142 ahead with eight second-innings wickets in hand.

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