Report on fourth day of Yorkshire v Hampshire, 23rd July 2003 by John Ward

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Scorecard:

Yorkshire v Hampshire

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Overnight: Yorkshire 384 and 23/0 (Wood 14*, Fleming 19*); Hampshire 289 (no play Day 3).
Lunch: Yorkshire (2) 211/4 dec.
Tea: Hampshire (2) 88/3 (Adams 35*, Francis 2*).
Result: Hampshire (2) 180/6 (Hamblin 35*, Udal 33*). Match drawn.

Well though Yorkshire played on the final day, they were unable to make up for the rain-ravaged third day of a match they had dominated throughout. At the close of play Hampshire were still 127 runs short of the target set them by Yorkshire, while the home side still needed four wickets and had to make do with an unsatisfactory draw.

Yorkshire batted very well during the morning to set a stiff target and took wickets quickly to ensure than Hampshire never looked likely to get the runs, but unfortunately their frequent failing to complete the job struck again. A determined seventh-wicket partnership saw out the final 80 minutes and 27 overs and for the second match in succession rain had diddled Yorkshire out of victory.

The sun shone nonchalantly throughout the morning, trying to pretend it had never been away and completely unconcerned about the damage it had done to the cricket match during its unwarranted absence the previous day. Later in the day, though, it returned to its tricks, popping in and out at random.

Yorkshire began the day with further bad news, in that Ryan Sidebottom had fallen on his ankle on the boundary rope during practice, and had gone to hospital for X-rays; he did not play any further part in the match.

Stephen Fleming cut the second ball of the day effortlessly for four, and then flicked the sixth to deep square leg to get Yorkshire under way as they sought a declaration. Bowler Chris Tremlett, though, settled down to find some unexpected lift from a length and Matthew Wood twice in succession narrowly escaped damage to his fingers.

Apart from that, both batsmen flourished to the tune of about five an over, until after an opening stand of 89 Dimitri Mascarenhas moved a ball back into Wood and trapped him lbw for 43. Fleming continued to drive elegantly and reached his fifty off 66 balls. Next ball, however, he slashed James Bruce into the covers, only for John Francis to leap high in the air and pull down an outstanding catch. Fleming made 53, in 10 boundaries, and Yorkshire were 110 for two.

After a brief respite, Yorkshire again pressed urgently towards a declaration, Vic Craven playing a few handsome drives while Michael Lumb began to take the bowling apart. Just before lunch Craven made 38 before holing out to long-off off Shaun Udal, and Lumb (59) placed the very next ball down the throat of deep square leg. Yorkshire were 211 for four as Wood applied the declaration.

Hampshire’s target was 307 off a minimum of 64 overs, difficult on a pitch now giving uneven bounce. Yorkshire were actually to bowl seven extra overs, showing they can speed up their rate when the heart is right. When Hampshire batted after lunch, the Yorkshire new-ball pair, doomed to lack the assistance of Sidebottom, did not fire up as quickly as in the first innings, but Steven Kirby, after some innocuous deliveries, finally bowled a fine yorker to trap Derek Kenway lbw for 5.

Then came the most vital wicket for Yorkshire. Simon Katich, in contrast to his first-innings century, did not look very confident and had only 4 to his credit when Craven, brought on as first change in the absence of Sidebottom, deceived him into shouldering arms and brought the ball back to hit his off stump. Hampshire were 30 for two, almost three as John Crawley survived a full-throated lbw appeal first ball.

Jimmy Adams and Crawley dug in for Hampshire, both enjoying close shaves with the total in the fifties: Adams could well have been given out lbw, while Crawley survived a hard chance to Fleming at first slip. Yorkshire were becoming desperate for a wicket when Craven broke through again, dismissing Crawley caught at short extra cover off a leading edge for 32.

By tea, a draw appeared the most likely result. Yorkshire still needed seven wickets, while Hampshire, currently scoring at 2.5 an over, would need about six an over on the final session.

Hampshire had clearly given up the chase, but Yorkshire were still striving. The pitch was also taking some turn. John Francis was given out caught bat-pad off Andy Gray for 2, who then caught and bowled Adams, driving straight back down the pitch, for 47. He had played a good anchor innings, but it did appear rather a soft dismissal. At 105 for five, Hampshire were in trouble and Yorkshire were on the attack, with five men, including the keeper, round the bat.

Hampshire continued to slide apparently towards defeat. Mascarenhas forsook his usual attacking game, but failed to score before being given out caught bat-pad; 111 for six. It was not an easy situation for umpires either, and some of the decisions given either way were perhaps open to question. But then James Hamblin and Shaun Udal dug in. They did not allow the situation to intimidate them, and with positive but sensible shots pushed the field back a little.

The fielding side emitted numerous appeals, some blatantly dishonest, but the batsmen’s concentration did not waver. A sharp chance from a cut by Udal with ten minutes to go went down in the slips, and that was Yorkshire’s final chance. Gray with three for 43 was Yorkshire’s most successful bowler, while Craven would be very satisfied with the prize wickets of Katich and Crawley.

Yorkshire have been playing very well in patches and should be confident as they play Gloucestershire at Cheltenham in their next championship match, beginning next Wednesday. Even the best counties, though, need proper co-operation from the weather to achieve positive results.

(Article: Copyright © 2003 John Ward)