Plenty of Runs in the Sun but Not Much Fun for Hants

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

Hampshire v Essex
LV= County Championship
Day Two: Wednesday 5 September
The Ageas Bowl

Summary: Essex lead Hampshire by 168 runs
with eight wickets remaining in the second innings
Essex: 180 & 217-2 (72 ovs)
Hampshire: 229
Scorecard

Hampshire Team
Adams*, Carberry, Shafayat, Katich, Dawson, Vince, Ervine, Bates+, Balcombe, Tomlinson, Griffiths
Essex Team
Westley, Mickleburgh, Shah, Pettini, ten Doeschate, Foster, Wheater, Napier, Topley, Chmabers, Craddock

A partnership of 193 runs between Essex batsmen Owais Shah (124*) and Jaik Mickleburgh (73) compounded a difficult day for Hampshire in this LV= County Championship match at The Ageas Bowl.

Having started the day 15 runs behind their opponents and with six wickets in hand, Hampshire could add only 64 in the morning session, ending 49 ahead on first innings and with four bonus points in total.

But the visitors wrestled their way back into contention in this match with that remarkable second-wicket stand, heading in for the night on 217-2 – a lead of 168.

They will resume in the morning with Shah still at the crease alongside nightwatchman, Tom Craddock (2*).

 

Having resumed on 22, James Vince kicked things off positively for Hampshire by driving Reece Topley for four from just the third ball of the day. But, just two balls later, Topley, who has just returned from the ICC Under 19 World Cup in Australia had his revenge, getting Vince – himself a former England Under 19 – to edge behind and Hampshire were 169-5. 

That became 185-8 as Topley (3-59) continued to apply the pressure and Maurice Chambers, bowling straighter and with more focus than he had on day one, trapped David Balcombe (0) lbw.

Sean Ervine (43) and James Tomlinson (9*) briefly stopped the rot, putting on 43 for the ninth wicket before the former blasted Graham Napier (2-59) to deep square leg and, next over Hampshire were all out for 229.

At this point, this was not a disaster. All that had happened was that the game had been thrown back into the balance, having seemed to be in Hampshire’s favour at the end of day one; a shame, but not yet cause for panic.

And Hampshire might have felt they were on track to take back control when Balcombe took his fifth wicket of the match, removing Tom Westley (15) who edged a back-foot drive to second slip; Essex 19-1.

But Shah came to the crease and had clearly decided that attack was the best form of defence, immediately assuming the role of aggressor while his Norfolk-born partner was content to provide support.

To illustrate, while Mickleburgh was, at one point, happy to score at one-an-over, Shah reached his 50 in a relatively swift time of an hour and a half and off just 72 balls. When Mickleburgh’s own half-century arrived some time later it took nearly twice as many balls (142) and 100 more minutes! 

By that time, Shah was on the cusp of his ton, brought up, characteristically, with two fours off one Ervine over; it had taken him just 128 balls and included 17 fours, one six. Essex were, at this point, already sitting pretty on 169-1 and with a 150 partnership just chalked up.

Indeed, the pair had gone through 200 and were on the brink of their 200 partnership when two spinners combined for Hampshire, one of Simon Katich’s left arm chinaman deliveries being edged by Mickleburgh to Liam Dawson at second slip; Essex 212-2.

And that would be just about that for day two, but this match is far from over. There are still two days left in this fixture and if Hampshire could bowl their opponents out by tea tomorrow they would back their batsmen to chase anything their opponents would be likely to make, especially on a pitch that seems to be getting flatter.
 

Catch Up:

Preview:	Adams Wants Good Start in Final Home Championship Fixture
Day One:	50-Wicket Balcombe Helps Hants on their Way

Keep Up:

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Radio Ball-by-Ball Commentary	Hospital Broadcasting Association / BeatPort

 Words: Simon Vincent
Images: Getty Images

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