Day 2 (close): Lancashire 70-1 are 478 runs behind Hampshire 548-6 declared (Smith 201, Adams 88, McLaren 81*, Alsop 50) 

HAMPSHIRE captain Will Smith led from the front with a career-best double hundred as his side amassed their highest total for six years, against Lancashire at The Ageas Bowl.

It will take a monumental effort for Hampshire to take the required 19 wickets on the last two days after Lancashire closed day two on 70-1 in reply to Hampshire’s 548-6 declared.

But Surrey showed it is possible by taking 18 on days three and four at The Ageas Bowl a fortnight ago.

And Smith’s 210 (455 balls) has at least given Hampshire a chance – especially with Mason Crane in the side.

The 33 year-old, 99 not out overnight and without a century in for two years going into Hampshire’s latest Specsavers County Championship match, reached his ton by cutting the first ball of the day, from Kyle Jarvis, for the 14th of his 28 fours.

Having faced 285 balls for his initial ton, Smith faced a further 164 for his double, which he reached by clipping Steven Croft’s off-spin for his 27th boundary.

A standing ovation followed and the relief for Smith was clear as he acknowledge the applause, in his fifth game since being handed the Hampshire captaincy in the absence of England’s James Vince.

Smith offered a chance to second slip on 70 on day one but there were no other scares as he made determined progress to the highest score of his career.

His 210 surpassed his unbeaten 201 for Durham against Surrey at Guildford as his career-best.

That came in a ten-wicket win and Hampshire are now targeting a similarly comprehensive victory after Smith’s patience, judgement and remarkable endurance (he was at the crease just shy of nine-and-half hours) laid the foundation for the county’s highest total since their 453-7declared against Kent at The Rose Bowl in 2010.

It was not all plain sailing. Rookie left-hander Tom Alsop had not added to his overnight 50, when he was lbw after a second-wicket partnership of 89.

Liam Dawson (24) had his off stump uprooted after pushing forwards tentatively against Jordan Clark.

And Adam Wheater’s 24-ball 29 ended when he was caught at cover attempting a fourth four in eight balls against slow left-armer Simon Kerrigan.

But Ryan Mclaren(81 not out) helped Smith add 129 in 34 overs before the double centurion holed out to mid-off and a further 33 with Lewis McManus, who was caught behind trying to pull a wide ball outside off stump.

The declaration was made when McLaren hooked Saqib Mahmood for his and Hampshire’s second six of the innings in bludgeoning 16 off the 165th over.

A Gareth Berg beauty accounted for the left-handed Tom Smith in the seventh over of the reply. But despite dropping Haseeb Hameed at point on 19, Crane will have been encouraged by the wearing pitch going into the second half of what is developing into a fascinating game.