Match report day 4: Hampshire v Yorkshire in Championship 2004 by John Ward

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Scorecard:

Hampshire v Yorkshire

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Overnight: Yorkshire 395; Hampshire 202/6 off 62 overs (Pothas 18*, Udal 14*)
Lunch: no play
Tea: Hampshire 259/8 off 77 overs (Tremlett 0*)
Result: No further play; match drawn

 

Another drawn match was the result of a final day when only 40 minutes’ play was possible. Hampshire avoided the follow-on against Yorkshire at the Rose Bowl in that time, and the game finished with Hampshire taking nine points and Yorkshire 10.

 

Damp overnight conditions and intermittent rain meant that no play was possible until 2.30, by which time 47 of the 98 overs for the day had been lost. Yorkshire, after their abysmal over rate the previous day, opened their bowling with spinners Andy Gray and Richard Dawson to try to avoid incurring a penalty point.

 

Yorkshire’s only realistic hope of victory at the end of the third day had been if they were able to enforce the follow-on; the loss of almost half a day meant that even should they do so, outright victory would probably be beyond them. Hampshire, when play began, needed another 44 runs from their last four wickets. 165 overs had already been lost in the match when play began.

 

Tactically, the use of spinners was a total failure, as the overnight batsmen, Nic Pothas and Shaun Udal, scored freely from the start. Runs and deliveries came at an almost frenetic pace, and Udal hit Gray for a big six over midwicket, and then Dawson for a straight six to avoid the follow-on and ensure a drawn match. It had taken 25 minutes, during which time the spinners had sent down 10 overs, just to show what can be done when they try.

 

The frolics finally came to an end when Pothas, pushing forward, was beaten and bowled by Dawson for 41; Hampshire were 253 for seven after a partnership of 71. Udal (45) did not survive him long, fending off a lifter from the restored Matthew Hoggard to Dawson at first slip, to make Hampshire 259 for eight. At this point, after 40 minutes play, the rain returned and an early tea was taken.

 

The rain grew heavier, and the match was abandoned not long afterwards. In Hampshire’s second innings Hoggard returned the best bowling figures of three for 50.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 John Ward)