Shafayat Piles on the Runs Again in Second XI Draw

Hampshire draw with Middlesex in the ECB Second XI Championship

Hampshire v Middlesex
ECB Second XI Championship
Tuesday 17 – Thursday 19 May 2011
The Rose Bowl

Summary: Match Drawn
Hampshire 2XI: 365-9d & 248-6d
Middlesex 2XI: 272-8d & 182-5
Click here for a full scorecard

Bilal Shafayat once again stated his case for a Hampshire contract with nearly 200 runs in this Second XI Championship match against Middlesex at The Rose Bowl.

Having made 219 last week in the former Nottinghamshire man’s first innings of a short-term trial with the club, Shafayat made a very fluent 105 (off just 99 balls, including 14 fours and two sixes) followed by 87 in his second knock.

He also showed an excellent understanding with fellow trialist, Karl Turner (61) as the pair combined for a second wicket partnership of 148 to give Hants a first innings total of 365-9 declared.

James Tomlinson (3-79) then showed that he is more than ready to step back into the first team fold if required by clean bowling three out of four top order batsmen, limiting the hosts to 272-8 in reply – a deficit of 93 runs.

And after yet more powerful hitting from Shafayat and wicketkeeper Michael Bates (64) saw the hosts to 248-6, Hampshire once again declared to set their opponents a target of 341 inside 45 overs – a required run-rate of more than 7.5 an over.

But when Tomlinson once again took an early wicket (Prowse going for 6, leaving his side 17-1) all Middlesex’s hopes of chasing down the target evaporated, eventually holding out for the draw on 182-5.

Words: Simon Vincent
Images: Getty Images

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