Late Wickets Give Hants Hope

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

Hampshire v Northamptonshire
LV= County Championship
Day Three: Friday 17 August 2012
The Ageas Bowl

Summary: Northamptonshire lead Hampshire by 256 runs
with five wickets remaining in their second innings
Northamptonshire: 356 & 176-5 (45 ovs)
Hampshire: 276
Scorecard

Hampshire Team
Adams*, McKenzie, Katich, Dawson, Vince, Ervine, Bates†, Wood, Balcombe, Ali, Tomlinson
Northamptonshire Team
Peters, O'Brien, Sales, Wakely, Newton, Hall*, Middlebrook, Murphy†, Willey, Daggett, Evans

A strong all-round performance from the visiting team was enough to get a convincing lead against Hampshire on day three of this LV= County Championship match against Northamptonshire at The Ageas Bowl.

But late wickets did give the hosts hope as Northants were reduced to 176-5 (a not uncatchable lead of 256 with a full day remaining) by stumps.

And further quick wickets, or a sporting declaration from the visitors could set up a fascinating final two sessions to this match on day four.

Earlier, Northants pace bowler, Luke Evans (4-33) had finished with career best figures to ensure Hampshire finished their first innings on 276 - 80 runs behind at the half-way stage in the innings’.

After a torrid day of bowling, Hampshire had been happy to end day two with the bat on 125-2 and, beginning day three with high hopes, home Captain Jimmy Adams hit his 10th four of the match to bring up a well-deserved 50.

Unfortunately, the celebrations were soon spoilt as Evans trapped Liam Dawson (19) lbw, getting caught on the foot. This was not the start the home side were searching for and it was worsened as the 25-year-old got his second wicket of the day, this time James Vince (4) also adjudged to be leg before.

It was, at this point, that a sturdy partnership between Adams and Sean Ervine was needed to help the home side get past a strenuous morning of batting and it wasn’t long before Hampshire got to 150-4 and their partnership was looking to take shape.

However, with Adams having been given lbw for 73 and Ervine (15) playing on to take his own leg stump, the revival now looked all but over with Hampshire struggling on 176-6 just before lunch.

After the interval, the momentum was strongly with the travelling team and another wicket looked like it might prove to be the undoing of the home side. So when Chris Wood (17) chipped to mid-on, helping Evans to collect his fourth wicket, this put the visitors in a very commanding position on 212-7 – 144 behind.

And though there was some lower order resistance, the three final Hampshire wickets of Michael Bates (28), Kabir Ali (31) and David Balcombe (15) all came within seven overs, the hosts finished their innings on 276.

Given three hours or so of the afternoon to bowl at their opponents, the second innings started brightly for the home side as Ali got Peters (4) to edge behind fourth ball. But, with the visiting side getting 18 runs after the first four overs it looked as if the early dismissal hadn’t affected Northants’ confidence too much.

However, a swinging ball from James Tomlinson (2-45* off 15 overs) caught out O’Brien who nicked behind to Bates for Hampshire’s second wicket and ensured both opening bowlers share the early spoils at 26-2.

A partnership of 32 runs between Alex Wakely and David Sales then helped Northants through the 50 mark before a sliced shot by Sales (24) to point flew into the clutches of Vince to bring in Rob Newton; Northants 62-3.

Nevertheless, Northamptonshire pushed on and the new man in was clearly up for it as he hit a quick-fire 50 in 41 balls, including three sixes. But Tomlinson finally got his man as Newton for a big hit over third man only to come short and to be caught by Simon Katich for 59. And with Dawson catching Andrew Hall for a duck in the slips, Hampshire were sensing a fight back could be on the card with a day still to play.
 

Catch Up:

Preview:	Hampshire Seek Revenge Against Northants
Day One:	Early Wickets Hand Hants the Initiative
Day Two:	Lower-Order Resistance Frustrates Hosts

Keep Up:

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Words: Will Rimell
Images: NJM Photography

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