Cricket: Aymes rouses Hampshire

Hampshire 276-6 v Leicestershire

A LEICESTERSHIRE attack already weakened by Chris Lewis's recall to the England team and James Ormond's back injury suffered a further blow when David Millns withdrew with an ear infection. It was a blessing for struggling Hampshire, who have the opportunity to give their confidence a rare boost.

They begin the second day well placed largely as a consequence of a career- best unbeaten 116 by their wicketkeeper, Adrian Aymes. It is only his second Championship century, his first for two years and guarantees that Leicestershire's stand-ins will have to improve somewhat on yesterday's returns if they are to come out on top.

Apart from having only Alan Mullally available among their first-choice seam quartet, the champions of 1996 were also without Darren Maddy, who was making his England debut, and their captain, James Whitaker, whose knee injury has not responded to four weeks of treatment. As if that were not enough, all-rounder Phil Simmons, deputising as captain, may not bowl again in this match because of a side strain, although it did not restrict his effectiveness in the slips.

Even so, in the early part of the day it seemed they might not be too inconvenienced. The versatile Vince Wells wobbled the ball around enough to induce the odd misjudgment and had Giles White caught behind off an outswinger. Mullally found something in the pitch to deal an early departure to Jason Laney and end Robin Smith's hopes of a substantial score soon after lunch. Hampshire, having won the toss, were then 85 for 4.

Aymes applied himself patiently and with the help of Dmitri Mascarenhas, with 46, rebuilt the innings in a fifth-wicket partnership worth 114 in 46 overs. At the close, Aymes had batted four and three-quarter hours and hit 14 fours.