HAMPSHIRE’s faint hopes of staying in the Specsavers County Championship’s first division were given a boost by title-chasing Middlesex - but widespread rain is likely to leave them 17 points adrift of safety.

Only 19 overs were possible on day three of their penultimate home match, in which time defending champions Yorkshire progressed from 69-1 to 143-2 in their second innings - a lead of 202 going into the final day.

Brad Wheal (14-4-52-2) took the only wicket to fall, former England opener Adam Lyth edging an excellent delivery to Sean Ervine at first slip.

England’s Gary Ballance (46no) added an unbroken 42 with Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale (19no) before bad light and rain forced the players off for the last time at 2.45pm.

With Yorkshire only five points behind leaders Middlesex, Gale is not giving up on a win despite more rain forecast from 3pm this afternoon.

“We’ll try to accelerate the game forward to get a result but we won’t throw the game away and take risks,” he said.

Hampshire director of cricket Giles White said: “Yorkshire might try and force a result which would open the door for us. We feel we need to get a win in the next couple of games. If that opportunity presents itself, we will be open to that.”

Another draw is the most likely result, which would at least give Hampshire five points on top of their four bonus points.

That would close the gap on Warwickshire to 12 points going into the last two games, if Middlesex win at Edgbaston.

The Championship leaders have set Warwickshire 338 to win and the home side need a further 264 today, with seven wickets remaining.

They ended day three on 74-3 after losing Varun Chopra, Jonathan Trott and Ian Westwood.

But captain Ian Bell (12no) is still there - and the forecast for Birmingham today is even worse than it is for West End.

Heavy rain is also due in Manchester from midday so Lancashire, who began the current round of games as the side nearest Hampshire, should get a draw against Somerset after closing on 422-9 in reply to the visitors 553-8 declared.

Bottom-of-the-table Nottinghamshire are 17-1 needing another 300 on the final day of their match to drag Durham, who have a game in hand, into the dogfight.

But the forecast suggests there will be very little play, if any, at Chester-le Street today. If the weather prevents any positive results Hampshire will be 17 points adrift going into next week’s penultimate game at Surrey.