Hampshire v Middlesex Friendly at The Rose Bowl

Hampshire v Middlesex friendly 8th April 2009 - day one of two

With a total of 76 overs bowled, Middlesex finished the first day of a two day friendly game against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl on 215 for 3; however both Godleman and Dexter retired out on 56 and 60 respectively - Chris Tremlett taking the only wicket in the first over after lunch.

Hampshire’s bowlers laboured without reward in the first session. There were a few close calls, but no wickets fell and the visitors finished the morning on 72 for 0 (Compton – 22, Godleman – 34).

Chris Tremlett opened the bowling with an impressive spell, showing he was back to his dangerous best. His partnership with David Balcombe restricted Middlesex to 10 runs off the first five overs, and to 20 runs off the first ten. Tremlett finished the session with miserly figures of 5-1-8-0.

First change was James Tomlinson who went for 9 in his first over but only 18 runs in his entire spell. Both batsmen were fortunate to survive his spirited lbw appeals, particularly Compton in the 13th over. Balcombe, bowling from the Northern End, was doubly unlucky with two close calls denied, one of them in the over before lunch.

Tomlinson

There must have been something in Hampshire’s food as the first ball after the lunch interval supplied a break through. Captain Nic Pothas caught Compton (34) behind from Tremlett’s bowling as he continued his dangerous form. But there was little else to speak of in a slow second session.

New boy Dominic Cork and Sean Ervine slowed down the Middlesex batsmen’s run rate as they conceded only 24 runs from 13 overs in search for a wicket. Godleman hit his half century after running for a risky single whilst stuck on 49, and by tea he had moved on to 56 not out, whilst partner Dexter (46) was looking in good form hitting successive fours from Ervine’s bowling.

Middlesex finished the second session on 147 for 1.

Both sides used the opportunity to give their key players some match practice, with Hampshire using seven bowlers and Middlesex five batsmen, including wicketkeeper Ben Scott who was promoted up the order from number 8 and, given the typical run rates from the day, was impressive making 20 runs off 24 balls.

Hampshire’s bowling figures were as follows:

C T Tremlett 13-3-31-1
D J Balcombe 13-3-35-0
J A Tomlinson 14-1-40-0
S M Ervine 12-4-28-0
D G Cork 11-4-26-0
B V Taylor 10-3-30-0
M A Carberry 3-0-10-0

Liam Dawson did not bowl as a precautionary measure to protect a split spinning finger.

Match report by Steve Woodgate.

(Seen at www.rosebowlplc.com)