Running Foxes claim four more on shortened day two
Thu 20 May 2021
DAY TWO | Hampshire CCC 223 for seven
SCORECARD | Available HERE
REPORT | Day two followed suit of day one and fell foul to the rain in the afternoon session as Leicestershire claimed six further Hampshire wickets.
Ian Holland breathed much life into the hosts innings after posting 82 on another stop-start day in Southampton.
The second day of County Championship action in Southampton got underway following a slight delay as the weather threatened to turn and disrupt play, similarly to day one.
Chris Wright opened the bowling to bring an end to the 27th over, and following a change in wind direction, the skipper immediately brought himself on for the first over of spin.
The sole reason behind the decision for Ackermann to be introduced into the attack was to be able to give Wright the chance to change ends to use the wind to his advantage.
The conditions on field though, were very much against the Running Foxes following the amount of moisture within the ground. It is likely that the ball received a lot of exposure to the moist field of play from the first few overs of the day, following the amount of rain that fell yesterday.
Equally, the conditions were far from batter friendly with the ball slowing up on the sodden outfield.
Ian Holland, the man who County looked to be targeting as he looked uncomfortable at best in the middle during day one, was exuding a lot more comfort and confidence at the crease today as he approached his half-century.
The 35th over of the day did see the bails of Tom Alsop’s (23) stumps come off, however, the outward swing along with the direction of the wind saw the ball go down as a no-ball, as Alsop chopped on from the delivery. Alex Evans’ hard luck continued through the night following the drop of Holland on day one.
Two deliveries later, and Holland brought up his fifty with his eighth boundary of the innings with the half-century coming from 104 balls.
Five deliveries later for Evans, though, and he finally had his man.
The young bowler did well to not become disheartened by the two chances that had already passed him by in Hampshire’s first innings, as he angled one into Alsop (25) who edged it through to Colin Ackermann at second slip who took his second catch of the innings.
Eight deliveries later and County had their second wicket in as many overs as Wright claimed the wicket of Sam Northeast for 2.
The Running Foxes man seamed a delivery away from the batsman, who left himself time to play it late. However, the superb delivery from Wright still beat Northeast’s bat and smashed the top of middle and off.
With the third wicket, Leicestershire picked up their first bowling bonus point, as Hampshire sat on 105 for three with James Vince making his way to the middle.
The fourth wicket partnership went on to post 36 runs before the Running Foxes claimed the fourth Hampshire wicket of the innings.
Ed Barnes was the man to claim it, as Holland played across the straight delivery, with the ball going on to wrap the batsman on his pads for 82.
The Hampshire partnership now consisted of Vince and Liam Dawson as the lunch interval was brought up slightly early, as the Ageas Bowl was once again covered in rain. Lunch was taken with Hampshire on 144 for four with County picking up three further wickets in the morning.
The afternoon session was late in getting underway following the effects of the rain that brought the morning session to a premature end, with Ed Barnes getting the second session underway 18 minutes later than scheduled.
Just shy of two overs in the afternoon session and the Running Foxes spurned a chance to claim the crucial wicket of James Vince, as he outside edged a Barnes delivery towards Rishi Patel at gully.
It wasn’t the simplest of chances, and Patel did well to react and dive to get a hand to the shot but struggled to hang on to take the grab.
Barnes, though, got his man in his very next over as he pinned Vince (32) infront. The batsman went on to post a further 12 runs since the chance that went begging for County.
Hampshire were 172 for five as Lewis McManus joined Dawson (7*) in the middle.
The sixth wicket partnership was only 11 deliveries old before rain once again halted play as the players were removed from the pitch for the second time in the day.
The delay lasted a total of 3 hours and 35 minutes before cricket got back underway, in which the tea break was included. Once the game restarted, there we 16 overs left to play.
Five overs had passed before the Running Foxes claimed the sixth wicket, and Ed Barnes his third meaning he would go on to claim career-best bowling figures in first-class cricket at the end of this fixture.
Barnes delivered a full delivery to Liam Dawson (19) and pinned the batsman infront. Hampshire were 191 for six as the Running Foxes picked up their second bowling bonus point. Keith Barker made his way to the middle to join McManus (5*).
There was still time left in the day for the Running Foxes to claim one further wicket, their sixth of the day as Evans wrapped McManus on his pads infront for 15.
The day then came to an end following the weather disruptions with Hampshire on 223 for seven.
FIGURES (1st inns) | Wright 23-4-70-2, Evans 16-2-50-2, Griffiths 9-2-34-0, Barnes 17-3-52-3, Ackermann 3-0-10-0
TEAM | Hassan Azad, Sam Evans, Marcus Harris, Colin Ackermann (C), Lewis Hill, Rishi Patel, Harry Swindells (wk), Chris Wright, Ed Barnes, Gavin Griffiths, Alex Evans
HAMPSHIRE CCC | Mohammad Abbas, Kyle Abbott, Tom Alsop, Keith Barker, Liam Dawson, Ian Holland, Lewis McManus (wk), Sam Northeast, James Vince (C), Joe Weatherley, Brad Wheal.
IMAGES | Thanks to John Mallett of Outside Off for providing the images throughout the game.
