Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson is targeting a NatWest t20 Blast return against Middlesex at the Ageas Bowl on Friday night.

Sidelined for the past two months after tearing a groin muscle in Hampshire’s opening t20 defeat by Glamorgan, Dawson enjoyed his first serious stint at the crease during the Academy’s drawn Premier Division match against Burridge.

He top scored with 72 off 60 balls, hitting three sixes and five fours as the Hampshire youngsters piled up a thumping 334-6.

“I felt good and enjoyed plenty of movement. I was able to hit the ball freely all around the wicket,” he said.

But there was no sign of Dawson bowling any of his left-arm spin as Burridge’s last pair played out the last 20 minute for a draw at 201-9.

“I can only bowl at the physio’s discretion and that’s not yet,” he added.

Dawson plans two more games this week – for Hampshire’s second team against the Royal Navy at Burnaby Road, Portsmouth, tomorrow, and then a Second XI Trophy match against Surrey on the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground on Thursday.

Burridge’s draw owed almost everything to former Hampshire batsman Derek Kenway, who returned to his old haunts to notch a match saving 115 after his side had lost their first two wickets to Ryan Murray (2-25) without a run on the board and were three down with only five runs scored.

Kenway batted virtually the remainder of the Burridge innings, scoring 23 boundaries in his century before being ninth out at 195-9.

“Derek batted very nicely and looked very solid,” Dawson said.

“They were putting up the shutters late in the innings but when Mason Crane had Derek caught it gave us a window of opportunity to win but it didn’t quite materialise.”

Last pair Seth Jackson and Nick McMurray played out time as Burridge staved off defeat at 201-9.

Earlier, the Academy batsmen piled up runs almost at will, with Joe Weatherley (66) and Tom Alsop (52) sharing a 120-run opening stand.

Dawson weighed in with 72 before Luke Webb, on his farewell Academy appearance, made 54 not out and Brad Taylor a boundary strewn 42.

But in the end, the Academy were frustrated in their efforts to force a victory.