Hampshire v Yorkshire, Close of play day 2 by John Ward

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Ground:	The Rose Bowl, Southampton
Scorecard:	Hampshire v Yorkshire
Event:	LV County Championship 2012

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DateLine: 13th July 2012

 

Hampshire v Yorkshire. Day 2, at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton
Close of play: Yorkshire 83/3 v Hampshire

The match between Hampshire and Yorkshire, at the Ageas Bowl, did start on the second scheduled day, but at the present rate of progress it would probably take several weeks to finish. Less than two hours' play was possible before a light but steady rain began and stayed, resulting in the day’s play being called off at the tea interval. Hampshire had rather the better of the morning's play, to all appearances, as they took three early Yorkshire wickets, but if they eventually get to bat the tables might be turned.

 

Again the early morning was quite sunny and warm, but this time it was still dry when play started promptly. Yorkshire had been put in to bat twenty-four hours earlier, and the decision was soon shown to be correct, as the opening bowlers Kabir Ali and James Tomlinson found both swing and seam movement with the new ball. For a while Adam Lyth and Joe Root handled the bowling quite confidently, but then Tomlinson got a ball through Lyth's defence and had him out lbw; Yorkshire were 9 for one.

 

Phil Jacques played a cautious innings, working the ball around the field for ones and twos with Root when he could. He enjoyed a life on 12, as he edged a ball from Tomlinson to Simon Katich at first slip, but the chance went down. Jacques did not profit from it, however; without addition he slashed at a ball from Kabir at the other end and edged a catch to the keeper, Michael Bates. Jonny Bairstow had the misfortune to fall to a 'jaffa' first ball: the ball from Kabir landed on a perfect line and length, seaming away. Many players would not be good enough to get an edge, but Bairstow does not fall into that category, which was his misfortune this time as Bates took another catch. He has had a dismal run of scores since his Test experiences. Yorkshire were reeling at 28 for three.

 

Root meanwhile was batting superbly. His defence was sound and he wasted few chances of scoring. He was particularly impressive when forcing the ball either side of point mainly off the back foot, scoring several boundaries in that area. With Gary Ballance in, the ball began to lose its shine and the swing was less noticeable, but the bowlers still had the best of the conditions. Ballance proved a capable partner for Root, and the two of them passed fifty in partnership, a welcome relief for Yorkshire.

 

During the course of play the sky had been clouding over again, and a light drizzle caused lunch to be taken ten minutes early, with the score on 83 for three (Root 46, Ballance 17). The rain proved very persistent and was still going at tea when the day's play was consigned to history.

(Article: Copyright © 2012 John Ward)