Frustration in the Field as Rain Leaves Result in Jeopardy

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

Hampshire v Kent
LV= County Championship
Day Three: Sunday 28 July 2012
The Ageas Bowl

Summary: Kent lead Hampshire by 146 runs
with two wickets remaining in the first innings
Hampshire: 292
Kent: 438-8
Scorecard

Hampshire Team
Adams*, Vince, Shafayat, Katich, Dawson, Ervine, Bates†, Mascarenhas, Balcombe, Briggs, Tomlinson 
Kent Team
Key*, Northeast, Nash, Harmison, Powell, Stevens, Jones†, Tredwell, Coles, Davies, Shreck

Having enjoyed two excellent days-worth of cricket so far in this contest, bad weather - as has so often been the case this season - on day three of this LV= County Championship match against Kent at The Ageas Bowl may well have confined it, sadly, to a draw.

There were three big delays - one each at the beginning, middle and end of the day - to disrupt the Hampshire bowlers' flow as they took three wickets (two for Sean Ervine), but couldn't stop their opponents amassing 148 runs in the 34 overs bowled to add to their overnight 291-5.

That means Kent currently have a lead of 146 runs but are still in their first innings. It's going to take some inspired thinking on day four to see this turning into anything other than a draw.

The first of the rain delays came half an hour before the start of scheduled play and delayed the resumption until 12:15. Once out, new man Darren Stevens had no hesitation in crashing a four through square leg to help Kent through the 300 barrier.

Stevens, of course, "can bat a bit" as they say, while the man at the other end, Mark Davies (17), was very obviously a nightwatchman and his innings soon ended when he looped a fairly tame shot off James Tomlinson (who's currently 4-79 off 26 overs) to Dimi Mascarenhas at mid-on; Kent 324-6.

2005 Ashes winner, Gerraint Jones can also "bat a bit" and, replacing Davies, it was he who made the ropes off Mascarenhas (0-55 off 23*) to bring up the 350 before the visitors went to lunch on 366 without further loss.

In doing so, they reached the end of the first 110 overs, meaning bonus points were now settled with four for Hampshire, seven for Kent.

The afternoon session was effectively rained off as, only eight minutes and 15 balls into it, the second set of rain saw the players back in the hutch and it wasn't until after tea (taken at the normal time of 3:40) that the players got on again.

When they did, Hampshire all-rounder Ervine (3-95 off 22*) battled hard to keep the energy up, running in time and again from the pavilion end without a great deal of luck. When he did strike it was to knock back Jones' (36) off-stump [pictured, left] and some clever field changes immediately paid dividends 20 minutes later as Stevens (40) flicked the same bowler to Tomlinson at third man, Kent 409-8.

The visitors clearly felt this was just about enough but sent in Matt Coles to strike a few lusty blows before the end. His two sixes off Danny Briggs (0-66 off 19*) in the 126th over were the only ones of the match so far and indicated a kind of "whatever will be, will be" attitude.

Alas, what "would be" would be rain - more of it - and bad light to bring the players off before the next over could get under way. Coles (19*) and James Tredwell (21*) will resume at the crease in the morning - provided captain Rob Key doesn't declare the innings in the meantime.

Catch-Up:

Preview:	Dawson Looks to Build on 'Special Week' Against Kent
Day One:	Adams - Dawson Parternship Anchors Hampshire Innings
Day Two:	Late Wickets Rescue Difficult Day Two

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Words: Simon Vincent
Images: NJM Photography

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