Hampshire Cricket History

On Royal Wedding Day, in the Royal London at Hove, Reece struck early, but when Gareth Berg walked out at 133-6 we still needed 118 to win. He scored 65 from 37 balls, Mason helped with 21* and improbably, we won. Amla, Taylor, Edwards and perhaps McManus from that first side  of 2018, won’t be playing today.

We beat Surrey and Essex, never got going at Bristol, then impossibly lost off the last ball to Kent. Two more victories followed v Middx and Glams and then we fielded like donuts against Somerset and lost a second match off the last ball.

Nonetheless, that took us to the magnificent semi-final show v Yorkshire, led by Captain James, and now today, here’s hoping …

PS We always win when the sun shines (1991, 2005, 2009)

This from Tigger, with many thanks. I note that like ‘Bloggy’ he’s only missed one, and that was the one we lost, so you two (to quote Elvis) “Come on and be my little Good Luck Charm uh, huh huh …”

Incidentally he talks about Men-of-the-Match. The wackiest must have been John Abrahams (Lancashire)  who scored 0, but got it for being captain (was it Peter May?)

Here’s Tigger

And if there are any Bloggers going to a Final for the first time – a special delight – I wish you a particularly happy day

My guess for the team (I have no inside information!):

Rosouw, Alsop (wkpr), Vince, Northeast, Adams, Weatherley, Dawson, Berg, Crane, Steyn, Topley

(options being McManus for Alsop and Wood for Topley, but that’s my guess)

(Sorry!)

Just back after a day full of art, which was perhaps more exciting than Old Trafford, but I’m delighted for Joe Weatherley – it’s no secret that I want to see our own guys coming through and with recent centuries in the Championship and the 50 overs he’s growing into a first team place (fingers crossed)

For the Lions, terrific stuff from Topley and Dawson

2nd XI? Middlesex 147-4 won it – Crane 4-0-28-1 while McManus top-scored with 33.

Second game, Middlesex won by the same margin with 177-4, Crane 4-0-20-1. Chris Wood played and took 1-34. McManus made 0, Sean Ervine scored a century.

So, presumably, if Crane suffers no adverse reaction, he’s in the reckoning? (He only batted once – 14*)

Kevan James offering lots of tweets and thoughts about Crane possibly playing on Saturday. Apparently he’s in the 2nd XI squad today at Richmond, might have had an injection etc …

This links to the previous post; Alan’s Comment had been looking up the records

In 1988, our team in the final was the same that contested the semi-final

In 1991, Tony Middleton scored 78, replacing Chris Smith who left Hampshire after the semi-final. Nicholas was injured in the previous match and was replaced by Jon Ayling (18* & 2-39) with Gower as captain

In 1992, Bobby Parks replaced the injured Adi Aymes and Ayling (2-38) replaced Raj Maru – neither replacements batted

In 2005, Kevin Pietersen replaced Jono McLean and scored 5

In 2007, (when we lost) West Indian Powell (1 & 2-80)  replaced Stuart Clark as the second overseas player

In 2009, the semi-final and final teams were the same

In 2012, Neil McKenzie (19) replaced Bilal Shafayat and Kabir Ali (1-50 including the winning ball) replaced Danny Briggs who was omitted by England.

So McLean, Clark, Shafayat and Briggs have played in semi-finals but not finals for Hampshire. It might be that McManus is added to that list on Saturday. If they stick to the same XI as v Yorkshire, then Alsop (who was injured) won’t play.

The two questions. If the pitch at Old Trafford suddenly turns into a raging turner Hampshire’s best hope might be all out by about 2pm, setting Lancs 200+ in around 60 overs – there again that looks as likely as Germany being knocked out of the World Cup.

And on Saturday? The choices are looking limited, especially since from those who have played in the RL Cup so far, Fidel is disappearing to Canada, Amla has gone, Taylor, Wheal & Crane are injured. So, here’s a possible team (bowlers*)

Rossouw, Alsop (w/k), Vince, Northeast, Weatherley, Adams, Dawson*, Berg*, Wood*, Steyn*, Topley*

I’m assuming McManus will be unlucky, and I wonder whether Holland could make it as an ‘insurance’ sixth bowler. I doubt it.

(If you read this earlier, my counting was dodgy! It’s been edited)

(List A)

Courtesy of Tigger – highest scores by both sides in the fixture a few weeks back:

http://hampshirecricket.net/Team_Kent_LA_records.htm

Hampshire’s first List A match v Kent at Portsmouth in May 1965, was our fifth ever, the third season of the Gillette Cup. We had beaten two Minor Counties, but this was our first List A victory against a first-class county. Alan Knott made his list A debut.

Hampshire 208 all out in 57.4 overs (Sainsbury 70, White 23, Dixon 4-51, Luckhurst 3-22)

Kent 185 all out in 54.1 overs (Denness 43, Luckhurst 36, Cottam 3-30, Sainsbury 3-45)

Man-of-the Match Peter Sainsbury.

Here’s a quiz then – seven games, Highest and Lowest by us and against us? All in the first two Comments

Difficult to create a quiz from this, so some facts

Eight of the ten men who bowled for Hampshire in the Finals of 1988-1992 went at less than four runs per over. The exceptions were Aaqib Javed (4.5) and Shaun Udal, the only man to play in both centuries.

16 men, including Udal, bowled in the Finals in this century and they all conceded at least four runs an over. Five exceeded five runs+ per over; two conceded six+; Powell went at eight per over, Katich bowled two overs for 20.

Most miserly is the same as top of the averages? Easy of course:

Steven Jefferies, 1988, 5-13 @ 2.6, conceded at 1.3 per over.

Most miserly in the 21st century? Dominic Cork, 4.1 runs per over

Others with three or more wickets: Cork 4-41 @10.25; Marshall 3-33 @11.00; Watson 3-34 @11.3; Wood 3-39 @13.0; Connor 6-93 @ 15.5, Bichel 3-57 @19.0; Ayling 5-98 @ 19.6; Udal 3-150 at 50.00

Not much luck for the spinners then, although in 1988, Nigel Cowley had 1-17 in 11 overs. Maru, Warne and Katich took no wickets; Imran Tahir 2-50; Liam Dawson 1-60.