MATCH REPORT: DRAW - Hampshire 413 & 185 - 4 (79 overs) Middlesex 362
Batsman Michael Carberry scored a third fifty in three innings in vein as Hampshire batted out for a draw with Division One leaders Middlesex at the Ageas Bowl.
Captains Jimmy Adams and James Franklin finally shook hands at 4:50pm after a snail paced final day with a draw the favourite result throughout. Despite Carberry’s fantastic knock, Hampshire remain bottom on the table, level on points with Worcestershire. While the visitors stay top with 84 points.
The former England Test opener scored a stunning 67 in the first innings – a week after falling three runs short of a first century for the season against Yorkshire – and set about continuing his fine fettle in the second innings. Carberry started slovenly on this occasion, reaching 17 in 91 balls before accelerating to his half century in 111 deliveries, which included six fours and a six. The 34-year-old smacked Middlesex fast bowler for three successive fours in the 46th over before powerfully pulling James Harris for a maximum three overs later.
Carberry was brought to the crease after Liam Dawson had edged behind in the morning session – Neil Dexter adding a sixth wicket for the match, and the second time he had Dawson’s wicket.
Opener Jimmy Adams who fell after attempting to leave a Harris bouncer – for 37, had wilfully accompanied Carberry in a 40 run stand. Carberry eventually fell for 57 after hooking straight down the throat of fine leg. The batsman angrily shook his head as he dragged himself back to the dressing room – after a 59 run partnership with one-day opening partner James Vince.
Vince scored a typically classy – regularly driving with the gorgeous perfection often associated with the England Lions player. But as has been the case equally as habitually this season he tamely departed in the 30s - edging to slip for 32.
Very part-time spinner Sam Robson took just his second first class wicket when he found an abundance of bounce to find the edge of Adam Wheater’s bat – Sri Lankan Madawa Warnapura his only other scalp. Will Smith and Sean Ervine scored 15 and one not out respectively, before all involved walked off, happy with a spare of the points.
TEA UPDATE: Hampshire 413 & 146 - 3 (62 overs) Middlesex 362
Hampshire batsman Michael Carberry scored his third fifty in a row, as his side continue to bat out a draw against Middlesex at the Ageas Bowl.
The former England Test opener tore the Middlesex bowling apart in the first innings with a stunning 67, a week after falling three runs short of a maiden century for the season against Yorkshire. Carberry started slovenly on this occasion, reaching 17 in 91 balls before accelerating to his half century in 111 deliveries, which included six fours and a six.
The 34-year-old smacked Middlesex fast bowler for three successive fours in the 46th over before powerfully pulling James Harris for a maximum three overs later. Carberry was brought to the crease after Liam Dawson had edged behind in the morning session.
Opener Jimmy Adams who fell after attempting to leave a Harris bouncer – for 37, had wilfully accompanied him in a 40 run stand.
Carberry eventually fell for 57 after hooking straight down the throat of fine leg. The batsman angrily shook his head as he dragged himself back to the dressing room – after a 59 run partnership with one-day opening partner James Vince. Vince scored a typically classy 23 by the end of the session, but a draw is still by far the clearest result, with Hampshire’s lead reaching 197 at tea.
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LUNCH UPDATES: Hampshire 413 & 70 - 1 (34 overs) Middlesex 362
Hampshire uneventfully batted out the morning session against Middlesex as the match looks set to meander towards a draw.
Captain Jimmy Adams held an end for the entire session reaching a careful an unbeaten 37, as Liam Dawson was the only player to depart. Dawson and Adams batted out the first hour under dark threatening clouds, successfully adding 32 to the overnight score with too many problems. The Hampshire batsmen seemed content to accumulate runs slowly rather than push the game towards a positive result – only 66 scored in a watchful session.
For the second innings in the match medium pacer Neil Dexter made the breakthrough of Dawson and for the second innings the 25-year-old was caught behind – departing for 19.
Incoming batter Michael Carberry also refused to get drawn into attacking strokes against the pacy Middlesex attack – taking an uncharacteristic 18 balls to get off the mark.
Stand-in captain James Franklin also seemed resigned to a draw – placing fielders on the boundary for the non-existent aggressive shots.
