Hampshire 279 for 7 (Weatherley 98, Northeast 51) lead Middlesex 252 by 27 runs
All-rounder Liam Dawson used to be stretchered off with a suspected Achilles injury to mar a productive day for Hampshire in their Bob Willis Trophy match against Middlesex at Radlett.
The 30-year-old, who used to be a part of England’s white-ball squad for their recent ODI series against Ireland, fell awkwardly while batting all through the last session and needed to be carried from the field.
Dawson’s attacking knock of 43 had already helped Hampshire to take a first-innings lead when he crumpled to the ground, visibly in pain after playing a defensive shot against Tom Helm.
There used to be a 15-minute delay while Dawson received remedy at the wicket, but it used to be already evident he would be unable to continue.
Despite that setback, the visitors ended the second one day in a strong position, with opener Joe Weatherley falling just two short of what would have been his second first-class century and captain Sam Northeast hitting 51 as they dominated the Middlesex bowling.
Hampshire had appeared set for an uphill battle when they missing Tom Alsop (4) in the third over of the day, the left-hander edging a rising delivery from Tom Helm as John Simpson leapt to take the catch.
That left the visitors in an unsteady position at 28 for 3 – and it could have been worse as both Weatherley and Northeast survived chances to second slip before their partnership had in point of fact been established.
Northeast’s, a fast thick edge when he had 14 to his name, would have been a magnificent catch by Nathan Sowter – but the possibility for a similar fielder to take away Weatherley off the bowling of James Harris used to be altogether more routine.
The twosome made Middlesex pay as they accumulated a fourth-wicket partnership of 139, with Weatherley stroking a midwicket boundary off Tim Murtagh (2 for 49) to bring his half-century off 157 balls.
The skipper, meantime, also reached his 50 in style, slamming Helm for four through the covers – but he departed in the next over after left-arm spinner Thilan Wallalawita returned for his second spell of the day.
Wallalawita’s second delivery tempted Northeast to chop, but the ball sailed towards gully, where Sowter – now relocated from second slip – gathered the catch safely.
Weatherley, who went to tea on 90, had rarely looked in anything resembling a rush all through the first two sessions, but he resumed in attacking mode, driving Murtagh’s first two balls of the evening for boundaries to advance to 98.
Alternatively, the batsman would get no further as he used to be adjudged leg before in Murtagh’s next over, making an attempt to flick a straight ball off his pads.
But Middlesex were unable to capitalise on the breakthrough as Dawson maintained the tempo, hooking Harris for successive fours and putting on 51 for the sixth wicket with Ian Holland.
Holland, who had taken 20 deliveries to receive off the mark, eventually contributed a breezy 22 to steer his side past the Seaxes’ first-innings complete before Murtagh had him caught in the slips.
That, along side Dawson’s injury, slowed Hampshire’s momentum and they also missing Harry Came (5), lbw to Sowter in the penultimate over as they reached stumps 27 runs ahead of their hosts.