Hampshire Rothesay County Championship Dv 1 at [insert sponsor] Bowl Day 2

 

23/07

Day 2

22/07

Day 1

HONOURS EVEN ON A TRUNCATED FIRST DAY

On a rain truncated opening day at Southampton only 62.1 overs were possible of Notts' tenth championship match of the season.

On a greenish pitch, Hampshire won the toss and inserted Notts on a wicket on the Nursery side of the square. The only change from the Somerset game was that Verreynne came back in to line up with Kishan now back in India. All indications were that Pennington would come into the Eleven for Farhan. Indeed even 15 minutes after play Farhan was performing twelfth man duties believing he wasnt in the team. All this after Dillon was rested from last Friday's match versus Lancashire. Strong rumours had indicated that the coach/captain had got their wires crossed. One to be filed with the Soup Dragons' friends. Although maybe it was cunning plan because it was same Eleven that thrashed Hampshire at Trent Bridge in May! Tongue will replace Hutton on Day 3 if as expected he doesn't play in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

Abbott (Pavilion End) and Jack shared the new ball and early on there was some life in the pitch aided by helpful overhead cloudy conditions. In the 4th over, Hameed (2) had a wild swish at Jack and was caught behind by Brown, 3 for 1. Slater was dropped on 5 by the juggling Varma at second slip off Abbott, the Indian having three attempts at the easy chance. Rain stopped play at 1140 with Notts 20 for 1 off 9 overs with Slater on 6 and McCann on 11.

The rain got very heavy and it came as a pleasant surprise when play resumed earlier than expected at 1444 with 30 overs lost. Both batsmen were struggling somewhat. In the 13th over, Slater (7) had his off bail removed via an outstanding delivery from Abbott; 31 for 2. This was only wicket of the day that was not down to batsman throwing his wicket away. Slater failing to get to 50 for the first time in eight innings. Later in the over McCann's score advanced by five thanks to four overthrows.

Fuller replaced Jack for the 14th over. Notts reached 50 in the 16th over - McCann taking 11 from Fuller including two boundaries. Clarke and McCann were accumulating runs at a steady rate with batting becoming a lot easier against the older ball. Baker replaced Abbott for the 21st over with an offside single for McCann bringing up his 50 his 65 balls. Jack came on for the 24th over. McCann was dropped on 57 by Weatherley at first slip off Baker - another dolly. A pulled four by Clarke off Baker saw Notts passed 100 in the 29th over. Two overs before tea, Clarke (32) cut a ball from Fuller straight to Middleton at backward point - a dreadful shot; 105 for 3 off 31 overs. Notts 115 for 3 off 33 overs at tea with the impressive McCann, strong square of the wicket, on 69 and Haynes on 4.

Organ came on from the Hilton End immediately after tea to allow Fuller to change ends. Abbott was his bowling partner. A short ball from Abbott seemed to confuse McCann (79 off 123 balls, 10x4) who played a half hearted pull shot and he appeared to deflect the ball from the back of his bat straight to Baker at short third man, 148 for 4 in the 41st over. Hampshire on top. Verreynne straight drove his first ball from Baker to the boundary. Both him and Haynes batted positively adding 84 in 18 overs to restore balance to the proceedings.

Organ and Baker came back for the 44th and 45th overs respectively. Haynes reached his 50 off 54 balls with a cover driven four off Organ in the 50th over. Baker went for nine in the following over, boundaries for both batsmen. Notts reached 200 in the 52nd over via an extra cover boundary by Haynes off Organ. Jack returned for the 55th over. Verreynne (42) pulled a short ball from Jack and was caught very low down by Fuller at deep mid wicket, 232 for 5 in the 59th over. Abbott replaced Jack for the 63rd over but after a single delivery umpires Millns and Debenham took the players off for bad light at 1845. Notts 241 for 5 off 62.1 overs with Haynes on 70 and James on 6. A further twenty three balls had been lost from the play. An even day, the new ball tomorrow could prove crucial to the direction of travel in this game. MAG

BBC -lost all their writers with cricket knowledge

Day 1

Hampshire won the toss and inserted Notts XI:

Hameed (capt), Slater, McCann, Clarke, Haynes, Verreynne (wkt), James, Patterson-White, Hutton*, Ahmed, Abbas

*Days 1 and 2, Josh Tongue for Days 3 and 4

21/07

Pravda, alittle earlier with squad news than their last minute efforts of late.

Haseeb Hameed

Ben Slater

Freddie McCann

Joe Clarke

Jack Haynes

Kyle Verreynne

Lyndon James

Liam Patterson-White

Calvin Harrison

Brett Hutton

Farhan Ahmed

Mohammad Abbas

Dillon Pennington

Another round with the Kookaburra, so might Calvin get the nod ahead of last week's hattrick hero or last month's player of the month?

Meanwhile, Josh Tongue, it has been decreed, "will feature on days 3 and 4".