Second XI Lose in Penultimate Over Thriller

Second XI v Essex Championship Match Report

HAMPSHIRE 2ND XI V ESSEX 2ND XI
SECOND XI CHAMPIONSHIP
WED 2 – FRI 4 MAY 2012
THE AGEAS BOWL (NURSERY GROUND)

Summary: Essex 2nd XI won by 81 runs
Essex: 395 & 0-0d
Hampshire: 66-4d & 248

Hampshire Team
CR Ervine, LW Thomas, DR Briggs*, BM Shafayat, AP Rouse+, GE Marshall, CJ Haggett, K Ali, OJ Alsop, JA Tomlinson, OJ Makin, JD Sheppard
Essex Team
NJL Browne, JC Mickleburgh*, BT Foakes+, MA Comber, HD Ramsden, TJ Phillips, SS Arthurton, JM Carpenter, MA Chambers, RJW Topley, P Joshi, MD Hunn

Big scores from wicketkeeper Ben Foakes (186) and captain Jaik Mickleburgh (100) dominated a rain affected game as the Essex Second Eleven beat their Hampshire counterparts for the second time this week, this time in the longer form of the game at The Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground.

Nevertheless, the hosts didn’t make it easy for their opponents with some valiant batting performances from Adam Rouse (62), Bilal Shafayat (77), Kabir Ali (42) and Danny Briggs (24) taking the game to within two overs of being saved.

Ultimately, however, the South Coast side succumbed to an 81 run defeat and will now have to pick themselves up for their next competitive match against the MCC Young Cricketers in the ECB T20 Knock Out competition towards the end of the month.

After winning the toss and deciding to field, the match started well for Hampshire with Ali picking up a wicket in the first over of the game. But the Hampshire bowlers then toiled as the Essex second wicket pair of Mickleburgh and Foakes put on a record partnership of 221, which proved to be the backbone of the Essex innings. The partnership, and Mickleburgh’s stay at the crease (which included 16 fours and two sixes) was ended after 51.4 overs as he fell to spinner Oli Makin, who also claimed the next two Essex wickets, giving him figures of 3-100 off 19 overs.

Foakes, however, continued to flourish, adding a further 72 to his own score before being caught and bowled by Ali (3-40 off 15), his innings being the stand out performance of the match, recording 31 fours and two sixes from his 214 balls faced. After he was removed, the Essex wickets tumbled as they lost their remaining five for just 20 runs; seamer James Tomlinson achieving figures of 3-49 from 21 overs.

But with seven overs remaining in the day Hampshire’s batsmen found conditions difficult, finishing on 9-3 as Maurice Chambers (2-14 off 9) removed both openers.

And any sort of result looked all the more difficult to achieve when the elements won day two as rain continued to fall and play was abandoned following an inspection after lunch.

With rain delaying the start on day three Hampshire reached 66-4 by lunch thanks to a partnership of 51 from wicketkeeper Rouse (15) and Shafayat [pictured above, playing for Nottinghamshire] (39*). The captains then reached an agreement which saw Hampshire declare their innings and Essex forfeit their second innings leaving Hampshire requiring 330 to win from 65 overs.

Again, the hosts started slowly, losing two early wickets. But then Rouse (62) and Shafayat (77) came together to produce Hampshire’s highest partnership of the match. The pair paced themselves early on in their innings before becoming equally aggressive with the former hitting nine fours and two sixes in his stay of 94 balls which complimented Shafayat’s stay (which included 11 fours and one six) well. The duo batted freely, putting on 133 for the third wicket to keep their side near the required run rate but when Rouse fell to Chambers (3-53 off 17) the scoring slowed as Essex gained momentum, taking three Hampshire wickets for 24 runs.

Needing just four wickets to seal victory Essex were halted by the excellent batting efforts of bowlers Ali (42) and Briggs (24) putting on 46 for the eighth wicket. When the latter fell with just 4.1 overs remaining, the home side appeared to be on course for a draw. However, Essex spinner Tim Phillips (4-42 off 11) turned the match into a victory for the away team taking the last two Hampshire wickets for just nine runs with one over to spare.

Words: Chloe Glass
Images: LMI Photography (top)
/ Getty Images (middle)

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