Ace is High , Malan caught Low

Seaxe Man provides his usual detail for report describing how the events unfolded for this defeat agsainst Hants. 

It was unusually, a sunny day for recent times. This meant a pleasant and rapid journey along the M25 and M3 to the Aegas Bowl The start time was altered to 6.30. The admission ticket said 7.00pm. So luckily I was early and no hassle.

Team News Hampshire announced that Jackson Bird would replace Fidel Edwards. They had a full squad. The rope was in a few yards but still big boundaries at this ground. Middlesex were short of Paul Stirling playing with and well for Ireland in Test. Kyle Abbott was recalled to SA for an awards ceremony.

Hampshire: Carbs, Vince*, Adams, Shah, Ervine, Wheater wk, Smith, Wood, Arafat, Briggs, Bird.

Middlesex: Malan, Compton, Morgan*, Franklin, Dexter, Burns, Simpson wk, TRJ, Harris, Sowter, Finn. Toss: Hampshire who batted.

Hampshire Innings.

Powerplay

Carberry and Vince opened. Finn opened the bowling. Hampshire were restricted to 42 off the pp overs. Very satisfactory. It featured a dropped chance, which dipped late at mid wicket off Harris. A late lunge was unable to retrieve the situation and the ball popped out. Finny's opening over went for one but TRJ had a skyscraper of 15 in over 4 which included three consecutive fours.

Overs 6 to 20.

42 for 0, became 43 for 1, Vince 9 bowled Franklin. A further success came at 50 when Adams went for 3 ct by Compton off Dexter. No further success came until the over 14 when Carbs was taken by Sowter off Dexter. Indeed at the end of over 16 we had the hosts over the barrel at 106 for 3. Most of their punters were getting anxious. However Ervine had joined Shah and the 4 death overs went for 66. The last two for 42. There were 3 skyscrapers, one each to Franklin, TRJ and Finny. 19, 25 and 17 to be precise. And featured at least half a dozen sixes. The 85 run unbroken partnership between Shah and Ervine cooked our goose. One of Ervines sixes was held spectacularly by Compton one handed, but his momentum carried him over the boundary. Shah also did a Desmond Haynes, driving the last ball straight and turned for the dressing room with the ball still in the air.

Middlesex Innings.

Powerplay

Malan and Compton opened. A disappointing 41 for 2 was our end result. after 6 overs. Hampshire opened with slow bowler Smith. The result was a single run which matched their opening over. The only bright spot was over two, where Mala hit Jackson Bird for 4 consecutive fours. Smith and Briggs bowled the first and sixth overs which produced 4 runs. So behind the 8 ball already. 41 for 2. Compton had been dismissed in over 3 by Wood for 5, and Arafat removed Mala for 17 in the 4th. Those two dismissals put the hosts in the ascendancy from which we never recovered.

Overs 6 to 20.

We strived to get back on terms. Joe Burns found scoring off the slow bowlers difficult but was eventually out to Arafat for 18. Morgs, Franklin and Simmo made contributions but the big innings required to turn the tables never transpired. Defeat could be seen from a long way out. We needed I believe 28 off the last over. Just a matter of getting what we could for the benefit of the run rate. 153 for 6 20 overs Hampshire won by 19 runs.

Epilogue.

My own feeling was despite the the late skyscrapers, a decent powerplay of 60ish would have redressed the balance. Vince had done his homework however and used his slow bowlers. Jackson Bird 2 overs for 26 was Hants only casualty. Wheater's catch low down to dismiss Mala hurt. Dexter 4-0-25 -2 was the pick of our bowlers and Sowter 2-0-11 could have maybe bowled one more.

PS: the photo was contributed by Rogers and Out with whom I shared breakfast on Friday morning.

Seaxe Man Ageas Bowl at the June 2015.