Hampshire LV Championship Div 1 at West End, Southampton Loss 3 points

 

Day 3

HAMPSHIRE CRUISE TO EASY EIGHT WICKET VICTORY

Hampshire cruised to an easy 8 wicket victory at 1625 at the Rose Bowl today. The wicket got appreciably slower today which made run scoring more difficult but made it easier for the batters to stay in. Hampshire bowled and batted better than Notts throughout the contest and thoroughly deserved their victory. Notts ' decision to bat after winning the toss looked the wrong decision at the time and sadly proved incorrect as the match progressed, but whether it affected the final result is very much open to conjecture.

Notts got off to a poor start when Abbas (Pavilion End) removed Moores (6) with the last delivery of the opening over, the left hander edging into Brown's gloves, 146 for 7. In the 57th over, Abbas removed Stone's (7) off stump, 151 for 8. Paterson (11) surprisingly promoted up the order was the ninth man to fall caught behind off Abbas, 163 for 9 in the 59th over. Fletcher joined Patterson-White and they stayed together for 10 overs as Hampshire elected to have most of the fielders on the ropes for the first four deliveries of each over whilst Patterson-White was facing. However only 14 runs could be gleaned as Patterson-White (10) was last man to fall bowled by Dawson's tenth delivery of the match. Fletcher 2 not out. Notts 177 all out off 69.4 overs. The Hampshire trio of Abbott (4-39), Abbas (3 for 67) and Barker (2 for 44) had out-bowled their Notts counterparts.


Hampshire needed 132 to win on the very slow surface and took 46.2 overs to reach their target. Fletcher (Pavilion End) and Stone shared the new ball. In the fifth over, Fletcher snaffled Organ for a duck caught at second slip by Duckett, 6 for 1. Hampshire got to lunch on 14 for 1 off 8 overs with Middleton on 9 and Gubbins on 5.


Paterson's first over after lunch cost 10 runs with two boundaries for Gubbins. His next two overs went for 8 and then he was replaced by Stone. After an excellent nine over spell from Fletcher (9 7 3 1) Paterson replaced him from the Pavilion End but proved expensive once again, as another 3 over spell cost 17 runs. The Hampshire 50 came up in the 21st over, Patterson-White came on for the following over. Middleton reached his second fifty of the match off 89 balls with a single off Patterson-White. Stone returned for the 34th over as Patterson-White switched ends for the following over. Slater was introduced for the 40th over. With tea delayed for 4 overs, Patterson-White bowled Middleton for 65 (121 balls, 7x4) 117 for 2. Gubbins got to 50 off 124 balls with a single off Patterson-White. To ironic cheers tea was taken at 1605 with Hampshire needing one run to win.


With Mullaney donning the gloves Moores was the bowler as Vince (10 not out) hitting the winning run off the second ball after tea. Gubbins finishing on 54 not out. Notts well beaten will require a much improved display against Somerset next Thursday; a game in which Stuart Broad is expected to play. MAG

Day 2

HAMPSHIRE IN STRONG POSITION AS SUB- STANDARD PITCH STARTS TO REVEAL ITS FLAWS

Another 13 wickets fell at the Rose Bowl today on a poor pitch offering too much sideways movement and uneven bounce. Notts closed on 146 for 6 in their second innings, leading by 100 runs. Due to the recent inclement weather its understandable that groundsmen are struggling to put decent pitches out, but this is the second time in three years that Notts have been confronted with a pitch at this venue which is barely up to first-class standard.

Fletcher (Hilton End) and Paterson opened the bowling in the warm morning sunshine and in his first over Paterson had Dawson leg before for 24, 120 for 4 in the 35th over. Fletcha Middleton's (59 off 113 balls, 10x4)  fine innings ended as he chased a wide one from Paterson and was caught by Moores tumbling to his right  133 for 5 in the 41st over. James replaced Fletcher for the 46th over. Paterson had bowled an excellent spell of 7 4 5 1 before making way for Stone, Patterson-White  came on the 56th over. Stone had trouble  with his line and length, bowling far too short as his 5 over spell cost 25 runs giving the initiative back to the home side. Fletcher was brought on to replace him and bowled a tremendous maiden to Holland. On the verge of lunch, Brown attempting a cross batted hoick was leg before to Fletcher for 26, 180 for 6. Hampshire got to the interval on 183 for 6 after 62 overs with Holland on 25 and Barker on 0.

Fletcher (Pavilion End ) and Stone opened immediately after lunch. In the 67th over, Fletcher had Holland (31) caught at second slip  by Duckett,  193 for 7. Three overs later,Barker (19) was beaten for pace by Stone being dismissed lbw, 215 for 7. In his following over Stone had Barker, who was fishing outside off stump, caught behind by Moores,  221 for 9. Fuller (21) was the last batter to fall. In trying to keep the strike and attempting a pull shot  he gloved a delivery from Paterson to Moores. Hampshire 231 all out off 77 overs leading by 46 runs. Paterson perhaps a bit rusty on day 1, bowled superbly today to finish with 18 7 39 3 and was well supported by Fletcher with 20 3 44 3. Stone bowling with pace, was too erratic on the helpful deck and was a tad expensive with 20 3 82 3.

Barker (Pavilion End) and Abbas opened the bowling and Duckett and Hameed attacked them with relish racing to 32 in 6 overs. Abbott came on for the 7th over with Notts taking the lead in the 10th over. Abbas proving expensive with his first five overs going for 33. Barker switched ends and with his second delivery dismissed Hameed (27) who cut him to Vince at first slip, a poor shot, 53 for 1 in the 12th over. James Fuller (11 4 13 0) was introduced for the 15th over and bowled miserly throughout, a perfect foil to three main pacemen. Felix Organ bowled the final over before tea and his only over of the contest so far. Notts got  to the interval on 75 for 1 off 18 overs with Duckett on 46 and Slater on 1. Notts appeared to be back in the contest.

Batting got much more difficult after tea as the effects of the roller began to wear off. In the 2nd over after the resumption, a single for Duckett off Abbott saw him to 50 off 54 balls. In the 22nd over, Duckett was lbw to Abbott for 51, 86 for 2. In his next over,Abbott had  Clarke caught behind for a four ball duck, 86 for 3. James, failing to move his feet,followed in the same over with an identikit dismissal falling for a three ball duck,  86 for 4. Notts had lost three wickets for no runs in eight balls as the match swung decisively in Hampshire's direction.

Abbott had an outstanding spell of 3 for 12 off 5 overs and was replaced by Barker and a splendid cover boundary by Slater off the left armer saw Notts to 100 in the 30th over. Abbas came on for a spell from the Pavilion End. Slater was dropped on 21 a very difficult caught and bowled chance to Barker. Slater started to go for his shots against Barker and Abbas but threw his wicket away being caught on the deep extra ropes by Gubbins off Barker for 43, 131 for 5 in the 39th over. Abbott returned from the Hilton End and had Mullaney (12) leg before to a delivery that kept low, 142 for 6 in the 46th over. Moores (6 not out) was joined by nightwatchman Olly Stone (2 not out) and the pair added a further 4 runs ìn the remaining 28 balls as Ñotts closed on 146 for 6 off 50 overs. Abbott 13 5 30 4 had proved a real handful throughout.

Hampshire appear to be strong favourites but if Notts could somehow eke out another 50 or so runs the finish could be tight given the poor quality of the batting surface. MAG

We are where we're at. Had we not batted first or if Mullaney had held the catch at his ankles in the gloom of the last over of day 1, then we would be in a different position. But, we're here needing seven urgent wickets this morning with only a slender lead remaining.

It's clear that Hampshire's analyst had worked out strategies for their disciplined seasoned bowlers to attack Notts' batsmen. Hampshire stuck to the plan and reaped their rewards.

As they say, today is another day and teams have turned similar situations around hundreds of times over the years.

HBD

Day 1

HAMPSHIRE ON TOP AT THE ROSE BOWL

Notts returning to the First Division of the Championship after a four year absence had a disappointing opening day of the season at the Rose Bowl today. Notts left out Montgomery, Ball and Hutton from the squad of 14, as Olly Stone made his Notts debut.


Bizarrely electing to bat, Notts were bowled out for a paltry 185 as an accurate Hampshire attack made their way steadily through the Notts batting line up. Leading the way was Mohammad Abbas who proved a handful all innings and finished with 6 for 49 off 15.3 overs of pinpoint accuracy. Abbas of course was due to play for Notts during the 2020 campaign but never made an appearance in the Green and Gold due to the Covid pandemic.

Barker (Pavilion End) bowled the first over Hameed edging the first ball for four,. Off the following delivery, Hameed was dropped low down by Holland at third slip. Duckett opening instead of Slater played a couple of sumptuous straight drives off the former Warwickshire man. Barker, after a four over spell for 21, was replaced by Kyle Abbott. Abbas was toiling away from the Hilton End and picked up the first wicket in his 6th over when Duckett (24) edged to Vince who took an easy catch at first slip, 42 for one. The opening stand proved to be the largest of the innings. Abbas was nibbling it around and his following over he had Hammed (16) edging to keeper Ben Brown, 45 for two in the 14th over. Barker switching ends replaced Abbas from the Hilton End. Abbas also switched ends and came on at the Pavilion End for the 23rd over and with his fifth delivery had Slater (11) caught at first slip by Vince, 77 for 3. Abbott returned for the 26th over and with his last delivery of his opening over had James (5) caught at second slip by Dawson, 88 for 4. After a pleasantly warm sunny morning, Notts 93 for 4 off 28 overs at lunch with Clarke on 28 and Mullaney on 4. Very much Hampshire's morning, their three aged but skilled seamers bowling well on a surface offering plenty of movement.


With the third delivery after lunch, Abbas picked up his fourth wicket when he had Mullaney plumb leg before for 4, 93 for 5. James Fuller was introduced for the 35th over. In the 41st over, Clarke (47) edged Fuller into Brown's gloves, 130 for 6. The sixth wicket stand with Moores had added 37 in 12 overs. Clarke had played relatively well in the testing conditions during his 77 ball innings which contained eight fours. Ian Holland came on for the 42nd over. In his next over, Fuller had Patterson-White caught behind for four, 136 for 7. Moores and Stone added 37 before Abbas went nap. Returning from the Hilton End he had Stone (17) edging to Brown with his second ball of his new spell, 173 for 8 in the 52nd over. Fletcher did not last long being smartly caught low down at square leg by Organ off Abbas for a five ball duck, 181 for 9 in the 54th over. Moores scampered a two off Abbas as the field was spread but going for a repeat. Vince's throw from deep mid wicket saw Paterson (0) short of his ground going for the second run. Notts 185 all out off 55.3 overs. Moores stranded on a determined 49 not out off 82 balls with seven fours. A fighting innings from the Notts stumper who very much deserved his 50 off the accurate and impressive Hampshire attack. Abbas led the way 6 for 49. Seven of the wickets had fallen to catches behind the stumps or in the slip cordon. No Notts batsmen could reach 50 and no substantial partnership developed.


Stone (Pavilion End) and Fletcher opened the bowling with Notts desperate for early wickets. It was now cloudy and the temperature had considerably dipped, sunhats had been replaced by bobble hats. Organ failed as he edged Stone to Duckett at second slip, 6 for 1 in the 3rd over. Three overs later, Gubbins (10) edged Fletcher to Duckett at second slip, 21 for 2. Paterson replaced Stone for the 11th over. After an eight over spell from Fletcher, James came on from the Hilton End and in his third over he trimmed top batter Vince's off bail, 57 for 3 in the 20th over, the Hampshire skipper out for 16. But the impressive Middleton (56 not out) was joined in the middle by Dawson (23 not out) and the two forged an unbroken partnership of 62 in 14 overs to put Hampshire in the ascendancy. Mullaney replaced Stone from the Pavilion End for the 29th over Stone having returned for a three over spell, opener Middleton reaching his 50 off 88 balls. Next over Fletcher replaced James (7 2 11 1) from the Hilton End. With eight overs remaining and the clock on 1825 we finally saw spin as Patterson-White came on from the Pavilion End. The light was closing in and at 1827, with seven overs still left on the days ration, umpires Lloyd and Saggers took the players off, rain arrived shortly after. Hampshire on 119 for 3 off 33 overs are 66 behind with seven first innings wickets remaining and appear to be in very commanding position. Considered championship favourites by many in the press they bowled very well, but question marks still remain as to whether Abbas, Abbott and Barker can stay fit throughout the summer. Notts meanwhile had probably made a mistake by electing to bat in helpful bowling conditions. It had been tough first day. MAG

Notts have announced the following 14 man squad:

Steven Mullaney C

Ben Slater

Haseeb Hameed

Ben Duckett

Joe Clarke

Lyndon James

Liam Patterson-White

Tom Moores

Olly Stone

Luke Fletcher

Dane Paterson

Matt Montgomery

Brett Hutton

Jake Ball

Hampshire have also named a 14 man squad

James Vince (14) C
Mohammad Abbas (38)
Kyle Abbott (87)
Keith Barker (13)
Ben Brown (10)
Liam Dawson (8)
Aneurin Donald (12)
James Fuller (26)
Nick Gubbins (31) 

Ian Holland (22)
Fletcha Middleton (19)
Felix Organ (3)
Tom Prest (24)
Joe Weatherley (5)

Harry's squad prediction for Notts:

Ben Slater

Haseeb Hameed

Ben Duckett

Joe Clarke

Lyndon James

Steven Mullaney

Liam Patterson-White

Tom Moores

If all of the above are available, fit and well then they are read as per the tablet the stone that Peter uses (although the last two would be switched)

Depending on availability etc, to complete the squad

Luke Fletcher

Dane Paterson

plus one of Olly Stone, Stuart Broad, Jake Ball

with Brett Hutton in the squad and Matt Montgomery travelling also