Vince: We'll be stronger for our next county test

The Hampshire skipper was pleased to give some valuable bowling time to his attack on the final day – especially recent recruit Tino Best .

And it was half-centuries for Jimmy Adams and Adam Wheater that had earlier ensured a draw was the likely outcome.

Adams, on his first appearance of the season after twisting his ankle while avoiding a bouncer in a pre-season net in Barbados, led the charge with a 70.

Wheater, alongside Ryan McLaren, then took the sting out of the match with an unbeaten 57 – to extend both sides’ unbeaten start to 2016.

Captain Vince said: ‘It would have been nice to get some more runs in the first innings but it wasn’t the easiest wicket with the variable bounce right from the word go.

‘We had them three or four down when we came off for rain on the second day when it would have been better for us to stay out there – the ball was nipping around and we could have got a couple more wickets.

‘We had a little chance of getting something at the end but mainly we just wanted to give our guys a bowl.

‘In 32 overs you never know.

‘Tino hasn’t played a whole load of cricket in the last month or so we wanted to get him another spell.

‘He bowled well which is encouraging and we will take that into Lancashire.’

Hampshire declared at tea on 290 for five.

West Indian Best then took his first wicket for the club before James Tomlinson also struck but Middlesex closed on 55 for two.