Friends Provident Trophy Quarter Final: Hampshire v Middlesex

Michael Lumb’s second one-day century guided Hampshire through to the Friends Provident Trophy semi-final after beating Middlesex by 44 runs at The Rose Bowl. Lumb put on an opening stand of 156 with Jimmy Adams to give Hampshire the perfect start before Billy Taylor took 3 for 44 to help dismiss the visitors for 266.

Hampshire had previously won in this competition in both 1991 and 2005 whilst Middlesex’s last success was in 1988, and the host’s chances severely improved when they won the toss and decided to bat in glorious conditions on the South Coast.

Ex-Hampshire player, now Middlesex captain, Shaun Udal opened the bowling for the visitors which Lumb hit down the ground for an early boundary. Fellow opener Adams seemed to be in good touch as well and after opening his innings with a lucky edge for four he started to settle with his partner as the duo raced to 50 for no wicket inside eight overs.

Both men then completed their respective half centuries, Lumb’s coming off just 34 balls and Adams’ being completed with a superb switch hit off Dawid Malan with Middlesex powerless to stop Hampshire’s continued progress. In just the 15th over the partnership moved to 100, with little distress brought to either player’s wicket.

Middlesex finally got their breakthrough as Adams’ expansive drive caused him to play on off Steve Finn’s bowling for an impressive 76 - but not before Hampshire had surpassed the 150 mark.

Lumb soon moved on to his second one-day century in the 35th over but was soon out when stumped by Ben Scott off Malan with the very next delivery, and the crowd rose to their feet to applaud the opener off the field.

Lumb

Udal, who had toiled from the Northern End all afternoon, finally got a double breakthrough in two successive overs firstly seducing Ervine, who had played a solid support role to Lumb, to sky a delivery to Malan for 34. The spinner completed the wicket frenzy when in his next over he had Chris Benham in all sorts of problems, with the batsman’s only answer to find David Nash for just 3.

Middlesex had developed a foothold in the game, and with 13 overs remaining and the score at 216 for 3 both sides had much to play for, especially with two new men at the crease. Michael Carberry and Dawson gave the home side some solidity; with Middlesex using seven different bowlers in as many overs as Udal strived for a breakthrough, but failed to find one.

Both men took full advantage of the batting powerplay with Dawson beautifully sweeping Gareth Berg for 4 as he and Carberry put on a 50 partnership of their own. Dawson scored his first ever one-day half century off 36 balls as he finished on 51 not out and Carberry finished on 42 not out as they steered Hampshire to the fourth highest one day score at The Rose Bowl – 310 for 4.

The total seemed a competitive one and with cloud overhead Dominic Cork saw a perfect opportunity to knock over the Middlesex opening batsman and with just four overs passed, and despite some impressive hitting, Billy Godleman succumbed to Cork with a slower ball that slipped into the hands of Ervine for 17.

The wicket did nothing to contain the Middlesex batsman however with Nick Compton playing some sublime strokes before holing out to Cork himself off Hamza Riazuddin for 23.

Neil Dexter hadn’t taken long to find his range however, with Imran Tahir guilty of bowling short to the South African and being blasted through extra cover for four and later for six as he and Sam Robson reached their 50 partnership in the 9th over.

Liam Dawson came into the attack and bowled Robson two short of his half century, just after Dexter had completed his fourth List A fifty.

In an eventful batting powerplay, Malan was the first man to go for 18 after pulling Taylor from just the second ball of the over straight to Lumb. Key man Dexter was next to go, and along with it Middlesex’ chances of winning the match as he found Riazuddin off Tahir for a superb 79.

Taylor’s second spell was proving devastating and he bowled Udal for just 1, and Tahir was providing more success with his second wicket in as many overs as he had Berg trapped lbw for 2. Ervine came into the attack and in his first over of the day had Nash caught out in the deep by Carberry for a quick-fire 20.

Cork had Chris Silverwood caught by Benham for a duck, and Taylor completed his brilliant second spell by dismissing Finn (13) with four balls remaining. Scott was left unbeaten on 18 as Middlesex fell 44 runs short of Hampshire’s total.

Hampshire have drawn Lancashire in the semi-finals in a game that will be played at Old Trafford on 5th July.

Match report by Steve Woodgate and Nick Howson.

(Written for www.rosebowlplc.com)