A FLURRY of wickets left Derbyshire hanging on to avoid defeat on the final day of their LV County Championship match at the Ageas Bowl.
Left waiting until 2.30 to resume their second innings because of rain overnight and in the morning, Derbyshire slumped from 31-0 to 42-5 in the first 10 overs of play.
At tea, they were 51-5 and praying for more rain to save them.
Derbyshire were set 346 to win by Hampshire but the long delay meant they had absolutely no chance of getting that, though there was still a real possibility of being beaten.
They made the worst of starts as Paul Borrington edged the first ball of the day from James Tomlinson and was caught behind for nine.
Opening partner Stephen Moore went four overs later as he drove at Tomlinson but straight to cover point. He made 25 and that was 34-2.
Tomlinson had another in his next over, flattening Marcus North's off stump with the Australian offering no shot on six at 40-3.
Matt Coles then came on to get Scott Elstone lbw for nought and have Wayne Madsen caught at third slip for two.
Alex Hughes (nought not out) and Gareth Cross (five not out) made it to tea but with 33 overs remaining, Derbyshire's prospects were bleak.
