Hampshire build healthy lead after skittling Australians

Alan Mullally strengthened his Ashes claims by taking five Australian wickets as the tourists were dismissed for 97 in a morning by Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

But it was not just Mullally who grabbed the headlines because rookie seamer James Schofield, making his first-class debut, had instigated Australia's collapse. By the close Hampshire were 238-3, a lead of 141, with Robin Smith and Neil Johnson having added 122 for the fourth wicket.

Schofield had set Hampshire on their way when he removed Matthew Hayden with his first ball in first-class cricket. He added the wicket of Justin Langer in his third over before capturing the prize scalp of Australian captain Steve Waugh for ten. Mullally had already disposed of Simon Katich to leave the Australians on 20-4.

Worse was to follow for the visitors as Mullally also accounted for wicket-keeper Wade Seccombe, Jason Gillespie, Ashley Noffke and his former Hampshire teammate Shane Warne to finish with 5-18 off 11.4 overs.

Dmitri Mascarenhas and Shuan Udal picked up the wickets of Brett Lee for 22 and Damien Fleming for six as the Australians were dismissed on the stroke of lunch.

In the afternoon session, Lee made two early breakthroughs by removing Giles White and Will Kendall for ducks in his fourth over to leave Hampshire on 14-2.

That brought Smith to the crease and he rolled back the years to add 102 for the third wicket with Derek Kenway.

Kenway was eventually caught at silly point by Steve Waugh for 70 off the bowling of Warne in the last over before tea.

After tea Australia's seven-man bowling attack failed to take a wicket between them as Smith and Neil Johnson set about extending Hampshire's lead.

Smith had an escape when his off stump was knocked back by Noffke when on 69 - only for umpire John Steele to signal a no-ball. He finished the day unbeaten on 79.

Johnson reached his fifty by cutting Katich for four moments after edging Gillespie through the slips. But he was still there on 64 at the end with Hampshire in charge on 238-3.

Afterwards Mullally said: "Robin Smith thinks I have improved phenomenally at Hampshire - and who am I to argue?

"I am never going to be a Brett Lee in terms of pace. But I have cut it down and am consistently putting the ball in the right areas."