Date-stamped : 27 Jul97 - 10:36 Flintoff hits first century By Geoffrey Dean at Southampton First day of four: Lancs (423-5) v Hants IT WAS close to a massacre after tea when Hampshire`s punch- drunk attack were pummelled for 160 in 26 overs by Andrew Flintoff and Mike Watkinson. The strapping Flintoff thumped a 145-ball maiden hundred before Watkinson reached his century off 21 balls fewer. However toothless Hampshire`s attack was - and on a batsman`s paradise on a baking day all they could do was peg away in the hope of mistakes - Flintoff`s innings was a supremely dominant one. He used his long reach to excellent effect, driving with im- mense power for a 19-year-old. One savage pull off John Stephen- son brought him a six to go with 22 fours. Watkinson favoured the aerial route more, four times hitting Shaun Udal for six. He was missed when 51, one of three chances spurned by Hampshire in conditions when catches abso- lutely had to be held. Flintoff was dropped when 12 and Gra- ham Lloyd when 33. Lloyd and Nathan Wood, whose impressively constructed 82 was a career-best, shared a highly watchable century stand at four- an-over. Lloyd, cutting and hitting over the top, needed only 109 balls for his 90. Both got themselves out. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Hayden keeps to the fast lane By Geoffrey Dean at Southampton Second day of four: Hants (171-0) trail Lancs (569-8 dec) by 398 runs LANCASHIRE`S bowlers looked no more likely to take wickets than Hampshire`s on a pitch that is a veritable `road` in crick- et- ing parlance. Passing the bat has been as easy as overtaking in an M25 traffic jam. Batters had it completely their way again yesterday before the rain came just before tea, preventing further play. Lancashire pil- laged a further 146 runs for the loss of three wickets in just 105 minutes before the declaration. Hampshire`s reply could hardly have been more robust as they motored along at al- most five an over. Matthew Hayden`s only blemish came when Peter Martin, who bowled with commendable zip, beat him outside off stump early in his 116-ball 90, two thirds of which came in boundaries. He developed a taste for Darren Shadford, driving him straight and through extra with ease. Soon, he became the second batsman this season to pass 1,000 first-class runs, none of them against the universities. Jason Laney`s form has been rather patchy, but he matched the quality if not quite the power of the Queenslander`s strokes, reaching his fifty first. Thereafter, he had less of the strike and was rapidly overtaken. Hayden`s brilliance in the field had finally accounted for Mike Watkinson, who had thrown the kitchen sink at anything in his half to reach 135 in only 159 balls, mostly scored off the front foot and in a widish V. Hayden, who once ran out three Zimbabweans with direct hits in a one-day international in Perth, again demonstrated his accura- cy when on the turn he threw down the stumps at the bowler`s end from cover point. This did not end the carnage, for Ian Austin arrived to score even quicker than Watkinson, swatting the bowling to all parts on his way to 69 not out off 60 balls, his third consecutive championship fifty. Nightwatchman Shadford was one of three Lancastrians to post a career best, joining Andrew Flintoff and Nathan Wood. Flintoff had celebrated his in style the evening before by buying three bottles of Moet & Chandon for the team at their hotel. Hampshire, meanwhile, have called a forum for 10.30am tomorrow at the ground to enable discussion between three senior club offi- cials and a group of disgruntled members, led by ex-magistrate George Pol- lock. who threatened to call an extraordinary meeting after collecting more than 100 signatures. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Austin supervises repairs By Geoffrey Dean at Southampton Third day of four: Lancs (569-8 dec & 103-5) lead Hampshire (412-4 dec) by 260 runs A RARE spurt of wickets in the final session on this North- lands Road shirtfront could be attributed to little more than Lancastrian carelessness. Mike Watkinson and Ian Austin soon rectified matters, thumping the bowling around with enough ease to suggest that Hampshire can expect a stiff target today. After some hilarious on-field bargaining between the two cap- tains, Hampshire declared before saving the follow-on after it became apparent that the only chance of a result on this wicket is by way of an old three-day-style run-chase. Hampshire proba- bly have the better chance of victory as there is little sign of turn for Lan- cashire`s spinners. The pitch, not for the first time here this season, is ridiculously good. Matthew Keech profited from the perfect batting conditions to record a second championship hundred in seven years, follow- ing his first at Arundel 12 months ago. This was still a pol- ished innings, spanning only 129 balls and containing strokes of genuine class. Jason Laney and Matt Hayden both missed out on their hundreds after getting bogged down in the 90s. Neither tried to hide his fury at getting out. Hayden, caught behind trying to cut one that bounced, could not stop himself from hurling loud expletives and Laney, lbw half forward, laid into both the pavilion steps and dressing- room with his bat. Those Hampshire members who feel a similar sense of frustra- tion at the club`s recent lack of success appear certain not to accept ap- peasement at the discussion forum that the club have organised for this morning. George Pollock, a retired Bournemouth magistrate, says that nothing will now stop him from forcing the club to call an emergency general meeting follow- ing his collection of signatures from more than 100 disgruntled members. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Day 4 Rain prevented play before 2.30 yesterday, precluding any chance of a Lancashire declaration as they felt only Hampshire could win the game in a short run chase. Hampshire bowled well, helped by a ball that at last swung for them, but a tame draw proved unavoidable. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)