Hampshire v Yorkshire, Day 1 Report 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 1, at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton

 

Thanks to the vintage 2012 weather, the only cricketing incident that took place on the first day at Southampton was the toss. A sparse crowd and two teams with a great deal to play for were totally frustrated, despite brief periods of sun which promised much but delivered nothing.

 

The early morning in Hampshire was very pleasant, by this year's weather standards, but the traditional magnetism of cricket attracted a light drizzle immediately after Hampshire had won the toss and put Yorkshire, who included Steve Harmison, in to bat. Play was therefore scheduled to start 45 minutes late, but after 35 of those had passed, the first of two heavier downpours struck the Ageas Bowl, preventing any play before lunch. With the water table so high, the drying of the outfield is as slow as a most obdurate innings by Geoffrey Boycott, but it was hoped to start play at 4.30, which would have allowed 32 overs’ play. However, another heavy shower which started just ten minutes before the players were due to take the field finally killed any hopes of cricket on this particular day.

(Article: Copyright © 2012 John Ward)