County Championship (at Edgbaston): Warwickshire 262 (AGR Loudon 103) drew with Hampshire 169 & 312-7 (N Pothas 126no). Warwickshire (9pts) Hampshire (7pts).

Though it is highly unlikely that John Crawley turned and said 'you've just dropped the Liverpool Victoria County Championship title,' there is little doubt that Jonathan Trott's failure to cling on to a regulation chance cost Warwickshire their best chance of victory against Hampshire. How costly it will prove to be come the end of the season remains to be seen.

Crawley, prodding at a delivery outside off stump from Jimmy Anyon, could only edge the ball to first slip. Trott, a man accustomed to pulling the sparrows from the sky, could not hold on to the opportunity and Crawley survived. Had the chance been taken Hampshire would have been only seven ahead with five wickets in hand.

As it was Crawley batted for another 32 overs, adding 121 with Nic Pothas to effectively make the game safe. It is such moments that define seasons.

It would be wrong to lay too much blame at Trott's feet. With about 150 overs of this match having been lost to rain, Warwickshire could justifiably claim that they ran out of time.

Hampshire's batsmen also deserve some credit. That moment of fortune aside, Crawley (187 balls, 12 fours) was as solid as ever while Pothas (183 balls, 22 fours) took the game away from Warwickshire in the post-lunch session with a positive century.

Besides, Warwickshire's situation is still strong. They remain unbeaten in the championship and are second in the table, one point behind Yorkshire, having played a match more. This time last year they would certainly have settled for such a start to the season.

The were also several positive aspects of this performance. Naqaash Tahir again bowled well and, though he possess no great pace, regularly troubles batsmen by swinging the ball both ways. It would be stretching a point to compare him to Tom Cartwright. But it is fair to say that the old fellow would not be displeased to see a like-minded craftsman flourishing through utilising the old skills - particularly as we live in an age when it is more common to see big men banging the ball in just back of a length.

Afterwards Darren Maddy, the Warwickshire captain, revealed that Shane Warne, his Hampshire counterpart, had offered Warwickshire a declaration deal at the end of the third day. "They offered us a target of 260 in 50 overs," Maddy said. "But that meant they would have to have scored 350 at around eight an over.

"I'm all for playing positive cricket but that didn't seem quite right. It would have tipped the momentum of the game and, at the end of the day, I thought we could bowl them out. Had that catch been held then we might well have done.

"We started the day thinking we had a chance of bowling them out quickly and knocking off the runs. We bowled brilliantly in that first session but that dropped catch proved crucial. We didn't start the second session so well though. Hampshire got away from us and the balance of the game changed.

"Even in the last session, when we took a couple of wickets, we were prepared to chase a target for 20 overs or so. But it wasn't to be."

Jimmy Anyon came in for some particularly harsh punishment in that second session. Twice he conceded four boundaries in an over as his line and length wavered while Dale Steyn also struggled for penetration in this match. Though there was no lack of effort, opposing batsmen have decided simply to see him off and Steyn has become increasingly frustrated. Indeed, he is starting to look a little jaded and, though he will be missed, the arrival of Paul Harris could re-ignite a campaign that has lost momentum somewhat.

Crawley did finally perish. A wild drive off Maddy was well held by Tim Ambrose standing up to the stumps before Dimitri Mascarenhas was yorked by Naqaash and Warne top-edged a slog.

By then it was too late, however. Any declaration from Warne would have been little less than reckless. Stalemate ensued.

 Warwickshire will field a young side in the three-day match against Bradford and Leeds UCCE in Leeds starting on Wednesday. Though the club had planned to name Paul Harris and Vaughn van Jaarsveld in the side, the England and Wales Cricket Board have ruled that only registered players can participate, even though the match will not have first-class status.

The first-team squad will remain at Edgbaston to practise their limited-overs skills, with one eye on the start of the Twenty20 Cup.