Ervine Innings Guides Hampshire to Dramatic Victory

Report from day four of Hampshire's LV= County Championship match against Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff.

Glamorgan v Hampshire
LV= County Championship
DAY Four: Sunday 22 April 2012
SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff

Summary: Hampshire beat Glamorgan by two wickets
Glamorgan: 103-9d & 256
Hampshire: 156 & 204-8
Scorecard
Concurrent Table

Glamorgan:
Rees, Walters, Bragg, James, Wright, Henriques, Allenby, Wallace⁺*, Wagg, Cosker, Waters
Hampshire:
Adams*, Dawson, Carberry, Katich, Vince, Ervine, Bates⁺, Wood, Riazuddin, Briggs, Balcombe

Twenty20 matches are often won with one ball to spare; rarely is that true of First Class games. This was one of those rare, special occasions. An enthralling match, which entertained from start to finish, and could easily have been credited to either side, went Hampshire’s way; the visitors travelling back from the SWALEC Stadium with a two-wicket win under their belts to kick start their 2012 LV= County Championship campaign.

It was a mammoth knock of 75 from all-rounder Sean Ervine that did the majority of the leg-work, though great credit should also go to Hamza Riazuddin (12*) and Chris Wood (24), especially, for their mature batting performance under great pressure.

Having started the day on 37*, Ervine knew he represented his side’s best chance of victory, and with a team target of 204 in his sites, the experienced Zimbabwean showed the sort of innings that have made him a fans’ favourite over the years in helping his side chase down the final 92 runs they had required in a rain-reduced 16 overs right at the tail end of the day.

Indeed, a match which had begun the day finely balanced became ever more so as rain tantalisingly delayed the start until late in the afternoon. It wasn’t until 5pm that the players finally got out for long enough to give this game the sort of ending it had deserved since day one. And that’s when all the action started!

Given a required rate of 5.75 runs / over, Hampshire had no choice but to hit out and that gave their hosts the opportunity to take cheap wickets. First Michael Bates, then Michael Carberry both fell for an unlucky 13; advantage Glamorgan.

But Ervine wasn’t done yet. He quickly moved to 50 (off 67 balls) and, supported by Wood, the two batsmen swung hard and swung the game back in Hampshire’s favour.

With nine overs to go, Hampshire needed 52. With seven overs to go, they needed 36. Wood fell, but still Ervine ploughed on, upping his rate by smacking Glamorgan’s Aussie import, the highly-rated Moises Henriques, for three fours in an over to leave Hampshire needing 16 runs off 24 balls. Advantage Hampshire.

Then disaster seemed to strike. A maiden followed, meaning a run-a-ball was now required, then Ervine skied a full toss from Jim Allenby into the grateful arms of wicketkeeper, Mark Wallace; Hampshire 192-8, still needing 12 off 12 and with two new batsmen at the crease.

Riazuddin, fresh from a first five-fer of his career on day three, took it upon himself to lead the charge once again with England’s Danny Briggs playing support. 12 from 12 became nine from nine and then eight from six.

With three balls remaining, Riazuddin smashed Allenby for four; the equation now two from three. And following a dot ball, it was Hampshire’s Academy product who kept his head, slashing a two to the leg side to steer his team home in dramatic fashion.

Hampshire take 19 points [16 for the win, three bowling bonus points] from the match and leapfrog Glamorgan, Northamptonshire and Yorkshire into sixth in the table. But, equally as important, they now take a huge boost in confidence into their next LV= CC match against the team above them, Leicestershire, at The Ageas Bowl, starting next Thursday [26 April].

Words: Simon Vincent
Images: LMI Photography

Catch Up

Preview:	Hampshire Squad Unchanged for Glamorgan Match
Day One:	Bowlers Blow Glamorgan Away on Day One
Day Two:	Things Finely Balanced on Green Cardiff Wicket
Day Three:	Riazuddin Leads Fight-Back As Hants Maintain Hope

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