Briggs and Wheal Impress in Good Workout for Hampshire Bowlers

Apr 8 2015

HAMPSHIRE V Kent
FRIENDLY
7 & 8 April
THE AGEAS BOWL

Hampshire:
J.Adams, A.Adams, Alsop, Berg, Bird, Briggs, Dawson, Ervine, Smith, Tomlinson, Wheal, Wheater, Wood
Kent:
Bell Drummond, Billings, Coles, Claydon, Denly, Griffiths, Haggett, Key, Nash, Northeast, Riley, Stevens, Thomas

MATCH DRAWN

Hampshire: 301 all-out
Kent: 376-9

An impressive bowling display from Danny Briggs, Brad Wheal and the remainder of Hampshire’s bowling unit, saw visitors Kent reduced to 376-9 in a day of valuable bowling for the home side at the Ageas Bowl.

In their final friendly fixture before the opening County Championship game against Sussex on Sunday, Hampshire’s bowlers took full advantage of the good weather to get some important overs out in the middle on day two.

Briggs and Wheal bowled excellently in batsman-friendly conditions, and were well supported by Gareth Berg, Chris Wood, Sean Ervine and new signing Andre Adams, who all took one wicket apiece.

Kent resumed well-placed at 76-0 on the final day and openers Joe Denly (72) and Daniel Bell-Drummond (88) looked in good touch as they began strongly. They shared an opening stand of 152 before Denly departed after edging Ervine behind who was well caught by young keeper Lewis McManus.

Briggs and Wheal then struck before lunch to restore balance to the score and something for Hampshire to build on in the afternoon session with the visitors 181-3

Wickets continued to fall after the interval thanks to some tight and consistent bowling from Berg, Wood and Adams, with the latter claiming his first wicket for the side having signed for the county this winter.

With the score at 240-6, the visitors looked to be in trouble but Sam Northeast (104*) and former Hants all-rounder Matt Coles (48) helped steady the innings before Briggs removed Coles and had new batter Mitch Claydon stumped by the impressive McManus.

The highly-rated 20-year-old keeper was given some valuable match experience and impressed with his tidy glove-work throughout the day.

Fellow youngster Wheal then claimed his second scalp of the day as Sean Ervine took his fourth catch to help leave Kent 376-9 before the two sides shook hands to bring proceedings to a close.

With some important practice under their belts, the two days served as important practice, and with some positive performances to be takenfrom the game, the side now look forward to the weekends opening clash against rivals Sussex this weekend.

Images: LMI Photography
Words: Will Brewster

day one

Hampshire: 301 all-out
Kent: 73-0

Sean Ervine (70) and Chris Wood (53) hit impressive half-centuries in a productive opening day for Hampshire in their friendly against Kent at the Ageas Bowl.

Hampshire made a solid start to the match with the new-look opening partnership of Jimmy Adams (22) and Liam Dawson (32), ticking the score along nicely from the outset. However, both players will have been frustrated to lose their wickets after seeing off the new ball initially without any troubles.

Despite losing both openers in quick succession, Hampshire went into lunch in a strong position on 86-2.

However, it was a much-improved bowling display from Kent in the afternoon session which frustrated the home side. Six Hants wickets fell before tea, with spinner Adam Riley the pick of the bowlers, contributing to the dismissals of Adam Wheater (7), Tom Alsop (13) and Danny Briggs (53).

Experienced all-rounder Ervine certainly enjoys playing against Kent, as he showed last September after his brilliant century at the Ageas Bowl, and he looked in great touch throughout the session alongside Gareth Berg, who hit a fluent 39 as Hants reached 248-9 at tea.

Many times last season the Hampshire middle and lower order contributed with valuable runs – and this match was no different as Wood played brilliantly to help his side reach 300, a target which looked unlikely at one stage. Wood was well-supported by James Tomlinson as the home side eventually reached 301 all-out.

The evening session represented Jackson Bird’s first opportunity to turn his arm over in a Hampshire shirt and this match is going to be important for Bird, who will need time to get used to the conditions.

Despite a couple of half-chances going astray, Daniel Bell-Drummond (34*) and Joe Denly (29*) looked solid at the crease for Kent, who reached 73-0 at stumps on day one.