Cricket: Loudon knock gives Bears the vital edge.

ALEX LOUDON'S development as a front-line batsman continued when his third LV County Championship of the season earned Warwickshire an unexpected first innings lead of 93 in the Division One match against Hampshire at Edgbaston.

The 26-year-old all-rounder ended a long wait for a Championship hundred when he made 104 against Lancashire in April and crossed the threshold again with 105 in the last home match against Durham.

Yet he probably surpassed both performances in making 103 from 138 balls against a top-class Hampshire attack.

The way he reached three figures off Shane Warne was exhilarating with boundaries from successive balls - a straight six, a sweep for four and a thumping shot past mid-on.

Warne had his revenge straightaway with a stumping by Nic Pothas but the damage had been done as Loudon (17 fours and three sixes) put on 78 for the last two wickets with Dale Steyn and James Anyon.

Warwickshire totalled 262 after bowling out Hampshire for 169 and Anyon removed opener James Adams as the visitors trimmed their deficit to 56 by making 37 for one 15 overs.

With the seamers generally in charge on the third day, Warwickshire could take encouragement from the performances of three young bowlers who shared eight first innings wickets after coming into the fixture with only 50 Championship appearances between them.

Anyon, who took two for 47 when Hampshire reached 121 for five overnight, was not needed as Naqaash Tahir (three for 41) and Tim Groenewald (three for 26) polished off the innings.

The last five wickets added only 48 in 70 minutes and Groenewald secured careerbest figures when Michael Carberry skewed a drive to Loudon at long-off after making 52 from 124 balls.

Warwickshire then lost three wickets and saw Darren Maddy retire for treatment after being struck during a sustained new-ball attack.

Kumar Sangakkara gave a return catch to Stuart Clark and Bruce cleaned out Jonathan Trott - lbw for three - and Jim Troughton, caught at slip for 18 after smacking consecutive boundaries through the covers.

Loudon and Ian Westwood took six boundaries from the first 16 balls by the supporting seamers and put on 74 in 17 overs before Hampshire regained some control.

Mistimed drives accounted for Westwood (51) and Tim Ambrose in consecutive overs from Mascarenhas and Maddy resumed to reach 24 before Clark picked up two wickets in quick succession.

Warne quickly had Tahir caught at slip but Hampshire were unable to apply the kill.

Steyn hit a rapid 26 before he was caught at deep square leg off Tremlett and last man Anyon contributed 14 to a stand of 45 in 11 overs.

CAPTION(S):

ON HIS WAY ... Shane Warne walks off as Warwickshire bowler Naqqash Tahir celebrates the wicket at Edgbaston yesterday