COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Rose Bowl:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Warwickshire 484-7 dec Hampshire 309-1 (Warwicks 5pts, Hants 5pts)
21 - 24 July 2009

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Carberry hit one six and 26 fours in his 243-ball 183 not out

Michael Carberry warmed up for the FP Trophy final with a season-best 183 not out as Hampshire all-but ended Warwickshire's slim hopes of victory.

Carberry dominated an opening stand of 261 with Jimmy Adams (90) as Hampshire closed day three at the Rose Bowl on 309-1 in their first innings.

Earlier, the Bears added 101 to their overnight 383-7 to declare on 484-7.

Jonathan Trott finished 184 not out, while Chris Woakes (131no) completed his maiden first-class century.

When the declaration came their eighth-wicket partnership was worth an unbroken 222, a record against Hampshire.

At that stage, with less than two days left to play, Warwickshire seemed the only side capable of forcing a victory.

But after Carberry's efforts a draw seems the inevitable outcome with only a shortened final day to come because of Hampshire's participation in Saturday's final at Lord's.

It was his third century in four innings and he will resume on the final morning nine short of equalling his career-best 192 not out, also made against Warwickshire in 2007.

Carberry, who raced to his century in 116 balls, hitting 16 fours and a six, and Adams batted beautifully and offered no chances in their opening stand.

But with Adams 10 short of joining Carberry on three figures he drove Ian Westwood's part-time spin to midwicket, where Trott held the catch.

That proved to be the only moment of joy for the Bears as their bowlers toiled on a pitch which offered nothing like the assistance the Hampshire bowlers enjoyed on the second morning when the visitors slumped to 90-5.

After bowling on the batsman-friendly track at Edgbaston all summer, they might have guessed as much, especially after watching Trott and Woakes continue their assault on the home attack earlier in the day.

Trott finished with a season-best score, while Woakes, dropped on 98 by Imran Tahir off James Tomlinson, had more than doubled his previous best of 62 before Westwood called the pair in.