RILEE Rossouw bounced back from emergency dental surgery to score his first Specsavers County Championship century for Hampshire.

But Alex Davies led the recovery for Lancashire at Old Trafford with an unbeaten 78 on day two of their crucial match against Hampshire.

Replying to Hampshire’s first-innings 451, Lancashire closed on 140-3 as Davies posted his highest score of the Division One season so far.

But Hampshire, boosted by Rossouw’s century in his first game after being struck in the face during the One-Day Cup semi-final win against Yorkshire, will still be the happier of the two struggling teams.

With club captain Liam Livingstone on England Lions duty and veteran West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul missing for compassionate reasons, Lancashire’s batting order was far from full strength.

Lancashire got off to a familiar start as they lost an early wicket, with England opener Keaton Jennings gloving Gareth Berg behind for four.

After tea Haseeb Hameed’s off-stump was sent cartwheeling by Fidel Edwards as he departed for 13 early in the evening. The former England opener has now been out three times in a row offering no shot.

Rob Jones followed for just a single, as he too had his off-stump uprooted by Kyle Abbott as the score slipped to 70-3 in the 25th over.

Despite the loss of wickets, wicketkeeper-batsman Davies remained positive, reaching a mature fifty off 87 balls (ten fours).

Dane Vilas - the stand-in captain - supported Davies and will aim to continue their unbroken 70-run alliance deep into the third morning.

Earlier, Rossouw, having lost four teeth last week, crafted his 19th first-class class century before finishing unbeaten on 120 off 189 balls (15 fours).

Resuming the second day on 302-6 and with Rossouw 54 not out, Ollie Rayner failed to trouble the scorers as Graham Onions had him trapped in front for a 24-ball duck.

The wicket of Rayner gave Onions his second five-wicket haul of the season en route to figures of 5-96.

But the hosts couldn’t capitalise on the early wicket as they toiled in high temperatures.

A 67-ball 49 from Berg ensured Lancashire’s bowlers felt the burn as the ever-increasing lead grew. Abbott and Edwards hung around with Rossouw - adding 61 for the last two wickets.

Rossouw, who made 99 with a broken finger against Middlesex on his home debut last April, had only made three half-centuries in 25 first-class innings for Hampshire before today.

He said: “It’s been a bit of a relief and long overdue. I’m just happy I got over the line.

“I’ve been in a good space over the past couple of weeks and I didn’t feel a lot of pressure out there. I was just worried that I was running out of partners, but luckily Jimmy [Adams] and Bergy [Gareth Berg] stuck with me to the end.

“I felt like there was a bit of extra bounce coming wide of the wicket. The bowlers are all tall lads and I didn’t want to be caught driving outside off – I’d rather back myself pulling and cutting. Luckily for me they bowled two lengths to me and I tried to capitalise on that.

“It’s going to be a challenge come latter part of the next 80 overs with the new ball. Initially, I wanted to keep the fielders on their feet and make them stay out as long as they can.

“It was a bit like a day three wicket seeing the One Day [International] was played on it so we’re going to have to get a couple of wickets early and make real crossroads early doors.

“I feel like the ball got a bit soft which isn’t ideal and it was reversing in the 12th over so it’s a good sign of how the pitch is abrasive."

Rossouw added: “I haven’t changed much at all for the last couple of years. I’ve finally started to find something again over the last couple of weeks and I’m going to try and stick with what I’ve got. Hopefully I can take this hundred into the final on Saturday.

“I’m very excited, it’s going to be my first final. I want to bring a trophy back home to Hampshire.

“I’m feeling good, very confident and if I can take this form into Saturday, it’s going to be fantastic for myself and for the team.”

HAMPSHIRE first innings
JJ Weatherley c †Vilas b Onions 0
JHK Adams b Onions 44
JM Vince (c) b Parry 103
SA Northeast c Jones b Clark 41
TP Alsop † b Onions 15
RR Rossouw not out 120
IG Holland c †Vilas b Onions 24
OP Rayner lbw b Onions 0
GK Berg c Lamb b Parry 49
KJ Abbott b Lilley 20
FH Edwards c †Vilas b Lilley 9
Extras 26 (b 4, lb 4, nb 18)
TOTAL 451 all out (142.3 overs)
Fall of wickets: 1-7 (JJ Weatherley, 3.1 ov), 2-114 (JHK Adams, 31.4 ov), 3-187 (JM Vince, 49.4 ov), 4-216 (TP Alsop, 70.3 ov), 5-235 (SA Northeast, 74.3 ov), 6-296 (IG Holland, 91.6 ov), 7-304 (OP Rayner, 99.4 ov), 8-390 (GK Berg, 119.6 ov), 9-423 (KJ Abbott, 130.3 ov), 10-451 (FH Edwards, 142.3 ov)
BOWLING: TE Bailey 27-5-68-0, G Onions 31-6-96-5, J Clark 25-2-88-1, SD Parry 38-6-101-2, DJ Lamb 6-0-38-0, AM Lilley 15.3-3-52-2    

LANCASHIRE first innings
KK Jennings c †Alsop b Berg 4
AL Davies not out 78
H Hameed b Edwards 13
RP Jones b Abbott 1
DJ Vilas (c) † not out 37
Extras 7 (lb 1, nb 6)
TOTAL 140/3 (47 overs)
Yet to bat: J Clark, DJ Lamb, AM Lilley, TE Bailey, SD Parry, G Onions
Fall of wickets: 1-7 (KK Jennings, 3.6 ov), 2-54 (H Hameed, 18.5 ov), 3-70 (RP Jones, 24.5 ov)
BOWLING: FH Edwards 12-4-30-1, GK Berg 12-4-30-1, KJ Abbott 7-0-39-1, OP Rayner 11-3-32-0, IG Holland    5-2-8-0    

Toss: Hampshire, elected to bat first
Umpires: Nigel Llong, Paul Baldwin
Points so far: Hampshire 3, Lancashire 2