Pro40: Hampshire v Yorkshire

The first Pro40 match of the season at The Rose Bowl saw Hampshire, on their return from winning the Friends Provident Trophy, lose the toss and Yorkshire Carnegie’s stand-in captain Jacques Rudolph used his initiative and decided to bat first in the brilliant sunshine.

The hero from that final, Dominic Cork, took the new ball and had some success in conceding only two runs in the first over. South African Rudolph showed all of his international class when he hit Dimitri Mascarenhas for a well guided four in the second over. Fellow opener Andrew Gale was in equally impressive form with a perfectly timed off drive off Mascarenhas.

Gale hit a delightful chip over Billy Taylor at mid-wicket for another boundary before pulling for four more in one expensive Mascarenhas over. He hit another pair of boundaries off Sean Ervine as Yorkshire passed the 50 mark. Gale, in spectacular form, soon reached his 10th half century as Yorkshire looked in aggressive mood.

A direct hit by Michael Carberry, for a possible run out, made Gale sweat but the third umpire made the correct decision in declaring him not out. Two balls later though, Gale (54 off 52 deliveries) was out; he mistimed a short Taylor delivery that fell kindly to Liam Dawson at short square leg for Hampshire’s first breakthrough. New man Adam Lyth and Rudolph continued to pile on the runs however and raced past the 100 mark in no time.

A piece of brilliant fielding by Mascarenhas saw the end of Lyth for 25. The batter tried to run a quick single to fine leg but the quick thinking captain managed to throw the ball to Dawson for a simple run out. Chris Benham was not to be outdone; a throw, whilst diving, to Tom Burrows saw the end of Jonathan Bairstow (1) for another run out in the next over.

Rudolph eventually hit his 37th half century as Hampshire’s spin combination of Imran Tahir, Dawson and Carberry slowed down Yorkshire’s run rate. Gerard Brophy hit the first six of the game as he moved down the pitch and hit Dawson over deep mid-wicket. Dawson got his revenge by bowling him for 34.

Rudolph hit a fine six before getting out the next ball. He tried to hit Tahir for consecutive maximums but mistimed it and was caught by Cork at mid-wicket for a well-played 79. Tahir picked up another wicket when Dawson brilliantly caught Richard Pyrah’s reverse sweep at deep square leg for 17.

Yorkshire Carnegie finished on 232 for 6.


(Full Match Report here - www.rosebowlplc.com)