Massive Hants Partnership Puts Hosts in Control

Report from day three of Hampshire's LV= County Championship match against Derbyshire at The Ageas Bowl

hampshire v Derbyshire
LV= County Championship
Day Three: Friday 11 May 2012
The Ageas Bowl

Summary: Hampshire lead Derbyshire by 352 runs
with two wickets remaining in the first innings
Hampshire: 352-8
Scorecard

Hampshire Team
Adams*, Dawson, Shafayat, Katich, Vince, Ervine, Terry, Bates+, Ali, Tomlinson, Balcombe
Derbyshire Team
Guptill, Borrington, Durston, Madsen, Redfern, Whiteley, Wainwright, Clare, Poynton, Palladino, Groenewald

Returning captain Jimmy Adams (122) and debutant Bilal Shafayat (93) put on a second wicket partnership of 164 to give Hampshire a great start – albeit delayed by two days – in this LV= County Championship match against Derbyshire at The Ageas Bowl.

Having seen rain ruin days one and two, the hosts knew quick scoring would hold the key to any result here, and they responded in the best possible way, reaching 352-8 by close and giving their visitors something to think about overnight.

Indeed, it’s going to take some creative cricket to get a result in the match, perhaps with both teams forfeiting an innings early tomorrow morning.

The early wicket of Liam Dawson (6) appeared to validate Derbyshire’s decision to bowl first having won the toss. But that only served to bring Shafayat to the crease and he looked instantly at home in his new settings as he played a number of fours around the ground.

In fact, it wasn’t long before the 27 year old carved one through point off Ross Whiteley to bring up the Hampshire 50. And with Adams keeping pace, the duo comfortably steered their side into lunch. The skipper even had time to place a boundary over gully in the penultimate over to bring up the team 100, Shafayat following up with three successive fours to leave himself on the brink of a half-century (49*) at the break.

They weren’t about to stop there. After the re-start the pair continued to play with great fluency, both clipping balls off their legs to bring up twin individual 50s within 10 minutes of each other. And the new boy celebrated by smashing Tony Palladino for 15 runs (including three fours) off the 45th over of the day to take Hampshire to 150.

Indeed, Adams and Shafayat had celebrated their own partnership of 150 by the time the latter was removed by a good catch from wicketkeeper Tom Poynton. But Adams, who missed the last two matches due to personal reasons, wasn’t about to let that affect him, cutting to the ropes to bring up the 200 and a first batting bonus point in the process.

Nevertheless, Shafayat’s dismissal had given the visiting attack hope and, though the captain would bring up his century (176 balls, 15 fours) with a well-run three before tea, Simon Katich (7) couldn’t stay with him and James Vince was pegged back for fourteen balls by a Derbyshire bowling unit with the scent of blood in their nostrils.

After the break, the youngster (36) hit his stride, helping to bring up another bonus point before becoming the second casualty to fall, caught behind; Hampshire 278-4.

It was at that point that the balance of power shifted slightly. First, a mix-up in the running saw Adams’ innings brought to a less dignified close than it had deserved. Then both Hampshire’s Seans, Terry (3) and Ervine (24), fell within relatively quick succession and, when Michael Bates (17) was bowled by Jon Clare, it was left to Hants bowlers Kabir Ali (17*) and David Balcombe (7*) to see their team through to close.

The latter still managed to bring up a fourth batting bonus point off the final ball of penultimate over. Hampshire, therefore, resume on day four on 352-8.

 

Catch Up

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Preview:	Captain Adams Returns for Derbyshire Clash
Day One:	Tomlinson Optimistic of Result Despite Day One Rain Abandonment
Day Two:	Shafayat Excited for Opportunity Despite No Play on Day Two

Words: Simon Vincent
Images: NJM Photographs

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