County Championship: Keaton Jennings helps Lancashire create chances of victory in Hampshire

Keaton Jennings scored a superb century to give Lancashire a big lead over Hampshire in the first innings at the Utilita Bowl.

Five batters – Nick Gubbins, James Vince, Tom Prest, Liam Dawson and Luke Wells – had scored fifty points without reaching three figures in the first game on the newly renamed field.

But Jennings turned his overnight 85 into 172 and 21-year-old George Bell accompanied him brilliantly – but he made 99 himself, with a maiden first-class century ahead of him.

Lancashire were eventually eliminated on 484, with Liam Dawson taking 4-156 for a 117-run lead. Hampshire lost two wickets to Will Williams before the end to reach 39-2.

Former Test opener Jennings reached his 28th first-class century in 234 balls with an effortless cover drive. Jennings made it to 150, Lancashire reached 350 before the bonus points ended.

The 40th over of the day finally ended the 166-run stand between Jennings and Bell when Dawson pinned Jennings while playing a reverse sweep.

Bell's 50 came in 132 balls, with a century looking inevitable – although Dawson had Matthew Hurst caught at first slip and Tom Bailey lbw.

In the '90s he made his way to a single when you needed one for a good first note. A run was never really on offer, which Jack Blatherwick recognized and sent him back, but too late for Ian Holland to score straight from the spot.

It was the second time Bell had fallen in the '90s, and a century was certainly not far away.

Dawson's tireless effort over 49 overs ended with Williams being bowled before James Fuller won his second innings as Blatherwick fell behind.

In 21 twilight overs under the lights, Williams tickled the outside edge of the defending Fletcha Middleton and a swinging Ali Orr to give Lancashire a slight hope of forcing an unlikely draw.

ECB Reporters' Network report.