Hampshire Rothesay County Championship Div 1 at [insert sponsor] Bowl Draw 11 pts

 

18/05

Day 4

RAIN RUINED DRAWN MATCH 

On another rain ravaged day Notts had to settle for a 11 point draw at the Rose Bowl today.

Despite a poor morning forecast play got under way on time with Hampshire resuming on 82 for 4. In the third over of the day, Ben Brown (8) was caught at first slip by Patterson-White off O'Neill, 90 for 5 after 35 overs. O'Neill was bowling in tandem with Olly Stone but Lehmann and Potgieter appeared to be in little trouble on a pitch which had lost its pace. With Tongue just about to replace O'Neill for the 41st over, play was stopped at 1135 due to light rain. Hampshire 97 for 5 off 40 overs with Lehmann on 36 and Potgieter on 3. Very light drizzle fell for two hours much to Notts' frustration.

Play eventually resumed at 1403 with 29 overs lost. With the pitch lacking any pace and the ball getting old, both batsmen looked comfortable and it quickly became apparent that the match was heading for a draw with the pressure now off Hampshire with all but a session of play lost to the rain. Hampshire reached 100 with a legside boundary for Lehmann off Tongue off the second delivery after the resumption. Lehmann got to his 50 off 110 balls with an on driven three off Stone in the 46th over. James came on for the 48th over with Verreynne standing up to the stumps. O'Neill returned for the 51st over but never looked like adding to his three wickets. Patterson-White came on for the 54th over. The Hampshire 150 came up in the 56th over with a two for Potgieter off Patterson-White. Potgieter (18) went for a shot over mid wicket but edged Patterson-White high to Haynes who took the catch running back from slip; 155 for 6 off 58 overs. Tongue returned for the 61st over. Hampshire got to tea on 176 for 6 after 65 overs with Lehmann on 89 and Organ on 8.

Patterson-White and Slater made it an all spin attack after tea, the match over as a contest. Organ was dropped on 17 by Hameed at leg slip off Patterson-White in the 74th over. A four through mid wicket by Lehmann off Patterson-White brought up his ton off 198 balls in the 80th over. Clarke came on for the 82nd over and was no balled for a delivery that bounced twice. The Hampshire declaration at 1650 came after three balls of the over with them standing on 207 for 6 off 81.3 overs, leading by 192 runs. Lehmann, who was dropped on 4 yesterday, on 102 and Organ on 24.

A rain ruined contest which only contained 224 overs in front of a sparse crowd in a soulless stadium. It will not linger long in the memory. Notts remain top of the table after six games. The big question mark is how will Notts cope without O'Neill and Tongue. O'Neill will of course play in the two championship games in June. MAG

17/05

Day 3

NOTTS GET HALF-BAKERED BUT SET-UP POSSIBLE EXCITING DAY 4

Five-fer Sonny Baker restricts Notts to a slender lead as Patterson-White finds some composure

Hampshire lead by 67 runs with six second innings wickets still standing on a pitch with plenty of lateral movement and uneven bounce particularly from the Pavilion End. A thrilling last day in prospect. The weather forecast predicts plenty of showers.

Notts resumed on 124 for 3 on another cool and cloudy day. Haynes and Verreynne added a further 21 runs in eight overs from Abbott (Pavilion End) and Wheal before they collapsed losing three wickets for two runs in 19 balls. In the 47th over, Verreynne (19) was lbw to Abbott; 145 for 4. Seecharan, who came into the match as substitute for McCann (broken thumb) was out for a 7 ball duck caught behind by Brown off Abbott following a defensive prod; 147 for 5 in the 49th over. Potgieter had replaced Wheal from the Hilton End and in his second over had Haynes (15) caught at second slip by Albert low to his left at the second attempt; 147 for 6 in the 50th over. Patterson-White joined James and they survived seven overs whilst adding 16 runs. Abbott has been the best bowler in the match and had bowled an extremely testing spell before being replaced by Sonny Baker for the 55th over. He bowled with great paceand ripped through the Notts lower order. James (6) was well caught at long leg by Wheal off Baker, 163 for 7 in the 57th over. You could argue the merits of taking the risk with this shot given the match situation.

Wheal came on from the Hilton End for the 58th over. Patterson-White,completely out of form with the bat in the previous five games hit successive fours off Wheal in the 60th over. He did the same to Wheal in the following over. A four through the covers by Patterson-White off Organ in the 66th over to bring up the Notts 200. Notts got to lunch on 206 for 7 off 48 overs with Patterson-White on 38 and O'Neill on 8.

Sadly Notts could only add a further 23 runs to their total after lunch. Baker knocked out O'Neill's (13) off stump, the 8th wicket had added 53 in 16 overs. Next ball Baker removed Stone lbw for a golden duck, 216 for 9 in the 73rd over. Patterson-White (48 off 74 balls, 9x4) was the last batsman dismissed top edging an attempted pull shot to keeper Brown, a fifth victim (for 45) for Baker. Tongue 7 not out. Notts 229 all out had a lead of 15. Abbott finished with figures of 21 8 40 4. Nine of the ten wickets had been taken from the Pavilion End.

O'Neill (Pavilion End) and Tongue opened the bowling. O'Neill had Albert (5) leg before, 10 for 1 after 3 overs. Gubbins pulled two short balls from Tongue for four in the 6th over. Stone replaced Tongue for the 8th over. Gubbins (11) edged a pull shot from Stone and was caught by Verreynne down the legside; 26 for 2 in the 10th over. With Notts well on top, Jake Lehmann was dropped on 4 by Seecharan at third slip off Stone in the 12th over. Middleton (6) was caught by Verreynne off O'Neill, 30 for 3 in the 13th over. Rain stopped play at 1540 with Hampshire 36 for 3 off 15 overs with Lehmann on 5 and Prest on 5. Tea was immediately taken.

Play restarted at 1640 with 38 overs remaining, 10 overs being lost. The sun made unlikely appearance. After a spell of 11 1 19 2 O'Neill was replaced by Tongue from the Pavilion End he like Stone was guilty of bowling a tad short of the perfect length for the pitch. James came on for Stone in the 26th over. Prest (18) pulled a short ball from James and Stone took a well judged catch low down at long leg; 73 for 4 in the 30th over. Very dark clouds were gathering in the west. In the 31st over, Lehmann went for a quick single off Tongue to Hameed at extra cover. The skipper missed his aim at the stumps with Brown short of his ground. He had time to aim and fire and will be disappointed he missed the strikers stumps. Bad light stopped play at 1749 with Hampshire 82 for 4 off 32 overs with Lehmann 30 and Brown on 2. With heavy rain soon following, play was called off for the day at 1810 with another 21 overs lost. MAG

16/05

Day 2

NOTTS BATTLE ABBOTT'S SCRUTINY

After an O'Neill five bag, on another shorn day

Another frustrating day in cold and cloudy Southampton with the third session completely lost to rain. 

Hampshire resumed on 152 for 6 and added 62 to their overnight score.

In the second over of the morning , Potgieter (15) was smartly caught low down by Hameed at mid off, the fifth wicket for O'Neill (Pavilion End); 154 for 7 in the 47th over. The seventh wicket partnership between Organ and Potgieter had added 46 runs. Abbott (14) was caught at first slip by Patterson-White off a lifting delivery by Tongue; 176 for 8 in the 54th over. Stone came on from the Hilton End with his first delivery Organ got to his 50 off 66 balls in the 58th over. Organ (55 off 73 balls) under edged an attempted  leg side hit off Stone and became Verreynne's fourth victim as he took the chance diving to his left; 199 for 9 in the 60th over. Overhead condtions were decidedly gloomy and the floodlights came on for the rest of the day. Patterson-White came on for the 61st over. Baker was the last man to fall lbw to Patterson-White for 3. Hampshire 214 all out off 66.2 overs with Wheal 21 not out. O'Neill 5 for 51 the star performer.

Abbott (Pavilion End) started with a wicket maiden bowling Hameed middle stump with a ball that kept low for a 6 ball duck, 0 for 1. Notts finally got off the mark with a two for Slater off Wheal off the first delivery of the fourth over. Notts found the ropes for the first time with Slater hitting three successive offside boundaries off Wheal. At lunch,  Notts were 18 for 1 off 10 overs with Slater on 16 and McCann on 2.

Baker replaced Wheal for the 12th over. Both Slater and McCann were struggling to time the ball. Potgieter replaced Abbott (8 4 7 1)  for the 19th over. Organ came on for the 20th over but only bowled a single over from the Hilton End. Wheal replaced him and a four through point by Slater took Notts passed 50 in the 22nd over. Baker returned this time from the Pavilion End for the 25th over. There was a stoppage in the 29th over when McCann got struck on the thumb by Baker. Off the last delivery of the same over, Slater (48) pulled Baker and he was caught by Potgieter diving forwards at deep square leg; 85 tor 2. Potgieter then immediately came on from the Hilton End. Notts got to three figures in the 32nd over with a majestic on driven four by Clarke. McCann retired hurt on 38 with Notts 105 for 2 off 32 overs. He was later seen with an ice pack and strapping over his thumb. Will Seecharan replace him? Clarke (14) inside edged Abbott and was caught behind by Ben Brown going to his left; 109 for 3 in the 35th over. Tea was taken at 1600 with Notts 124 for 3 off 38 overs with Haynes on 5 and Verreynne on 10. Potgieter had three times induced edges with each time the ball just failing to reach the slip cordon. Abbott (11 5 20 2) bowled outstandingly throughout.

Rain arrived at teatime and set in. Play was called off at 1723 with 41 overs lost out of the day. MAG

15/05 Day 1

FERGUS TAKES FOUR WICKETS ON A RAIN SHORTENED DAY

Only 45.3 overs were possible on the opening day of a cool cloudy day at the soulless Rose Bowl.

On a greenish pitch, Notts won the toss and inserted struggling Hampshire. The only change was McCann coming in Duckett. Fergus O'Neill dominated the showery day. Bowling from the Pavilion End throughout he had figures of 15 5 32 4.

O'Neill opened the bowling with Josh Tongue. Hampshire were soon in trouble. In the fifth over, Albert (5) was lbw to a well pitched up delivery from O'Neill, 14 for 1. Middleton made a 14 ball duck being caught behind low down by Verreynne off O'Neill,  22 for 2 in the 9th over. Stone replaced Tongue for the 10th over but did not have the best of days with the ball. Lehmann became O'Neill's third victim leg before for 4, 32 for 3 in the 11th over. O'Neill with figures of 8 4 14 3 after his first spell and was replaced by James for the 17th over. A four through the covers by Gubbins off Stone saw Hampshire to 50 in the 18th over. Prest (11) survived a confident caught behind shout from an out swinger from James . He departed the very next ball chasing a widish delivery with no foot movement edging the ball to Verreynne who took the catch low to his right, 54 for 4 in the 21st over. A poor shot! Tongue returned for the 22nd over. Bad light stopped play at 1242 with Hampshire on 68 for 4 off 23 overs with Gubbins on 34 and Brown on 4. Heavy rain arrived shortly afterwards.

Play restarted at 1400 with two overs lost. Tongue and O'Neill returned. Gubbins (36) became O'Neill's fourth victim edging him to Verreynne who took the chance diving to his left; 85 for 5 after 29 overs. Hampshire well and truly on the ropes. Ben Brown hit successive fours off O'Neill off the last two balls of the 31st over. Rain immediately stopped play at 1434 with Hampshire on 96 for 5 off 31 overs with Brown on 24 and Potgieter on 2. Potgieter is a 29 year old all rounder from Port Elizabeth brought in this week as an overseas player.

Play resumed at 1509 with a further 10 overs lost. The Hampshire 100 came up in the 34th over when left hander Potgieter found the backward point ropes off Tongue. Brown (29) top edged an attempted pull shot from Tongue and substitute Sam Seecharan took the catch at long leg; 105 for 6 in the 36th over. This turned out to be the last wicket of the day.

Organ edged his first ball from Tongue just wide of third slip for four. James and Stone replaced O'Neill and Tongue for the 39th and 40th overs respectively. Organ hit successive fours off Stone in the 40th over but later in the same over he was badly dropped on 19 in the gully by Lyndon James. With the light deteriorating tea was taken early at 1554 with Hampshire 128 for 6 off 41 overs with Potgieter on 7 and Organ on 21. A heavy 25 minute storm hit the ground ten minutes later.

Play resumed at 1800 with 15 overs remaining in the day. Tongue and Stone bowled poorly and a further 24 runs were added in 27 balls with the ball being replaced after 43 overs. Hampshire got to 150 via a four through point by Potgieter off Tongue in the 45th over. Shortly afterwards at 1822 bad light stopped play at 152 for 6 off 45.3 overs with Potgieter on 14 and Organ on 34. More rain arrived five minutes later.

A frustrating day. Hampshire looked a poor dispirited team. The forecast for the rest of the game is not particularly promising..... MAG

14/05

Squad:

Haseeb Hameed c

Ben Slater

Freddie McCann

Joe Clarke

Jack Haynes

Kyle Verreynne x

Lyndon James

Liam Patterson-White

Fergus O'Neill

Olly Stone

Josh Tongue

Dillon Pennington

Sam Seecharan

Farhan Ahmed

Hampshire will have their new signing Delano Potgieter available for this match.

13/05

Writing 2 days into the 32 days gap between home championship fixtures:

Ben Duckett has managed to find some of his lost mojo, so sits out this game. Meanwhile, Josh Tongue is on fire and wants to keep that fire stoked ahead of the Test at Lord's, so is expected to be available. Two centrally contracted players, two different approaches to workload and form.