FELIX Organ and James Vince put on 53 to complete a Vitality County Championship stalemate with Durham which had been inescapable since Friday.

Organ and Vince made it safe with risk-free blocking before bad light and rain brought about the inevitable result at 15:40 BST.

Hampshire are still winless after five matches in 2024 but picked up 13 points to Durham’s 11, while the visitors remain undefeated since their return to Division One.

For three days, this had the feeling of a certain draw – and it would – but for a short spell in the morning Durham sensed an unlikely victory.

Callum Parkinson was bowled after the ball rolled back onto his stumps and Peter Siddle paddled to short fine leg – either side of Ben Raine picking up his 19th first-class fifty in 95 balls.

It gave Hampshire a 71-run first-innings lead, having seen Liam Dawson and Organ bowl more overs than they ever had in an innings – 66 and 42.5 overs respectively.

They were rewarded with five for 184 and four for 101. Dawson's were the third most ever in an innings by a Hampshire bowler.

Matthew Potts, who finished with two for 19, shook off his indifferent early-season form to blast out Hampshire’s two openers.

Ali Orr, who had scored a splendid first-innings century – was undone by a ball in a testing area, with perhaps a little lift, to edge behind to Ollie Robinson in the third over.

Fletcha Middleton was unluckier as a good length delivery stayed low and slipped under his bat and into his stumps. Potts’ first five-over spell returned two for eight.

Organ – jumping back up the order from No.8 to deputise for Gubbins – and captain Vince settled things back into the groove of the previous three days, albeit with no intent to score.

Organ would end up with 18 off 99 balls, and Vince 35 from 108 before bad light took the players off at 2:45 PM.

Speaking after the draw, Hampshire coach Adi Birrell said: "It isn’t ideal (not winning first three at home).

"We have played on pitches which have been difficult to get a result with. It isn’t good in terms of where we are in the table – you have to win your home games.

“In this game, we held the upper hand and put them under pressure for a long time in the match and there are plenty of positives.

“David Bedingham is a Test player and he got 144 and that put them beyond the follow-on. We would have had a real chance if we had made them follow on.

“It then turned into a dull draw which means we are winless so far. We need to turn that around as soon as possible.”

Hampshire travel to Trent Bridge to face Nottinghamshire later this week, starting on Friday.