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Hampshire's Director of Cricket responds to the team's defeat to Durham in the Specsavers County Championship
Director of Cricket Giles White believes Hampshire's players have given him everything in the Specsavers County Championship this season, following the team's six-wicket defeat to Durham at the The Ageas Bowl.
Lewis McManus and Gareth Berg gave Hants hope of retaining Division One status as the home side established a 295-run lead over Durham, before Hampshire's bowlers were undone by high-quality batting from the visiting side, who chased down the required 296 with three overs to spare.
Mason Crane provided Hampshire with a glimmer of positivity by taking three wickets on a disappointing day for the club, who will spend the 2017 season in Division Two despite a heroic fight in Division One.
Hampshire’s plan to bat for an hour on day four was executed brilliantly, as Lewis McManus reached a 68-ball fifty and Gareth Berg added 36 runs off 43 balls to extend the home side’s lead to 295 runs.
McManus was cool, calm and versatile on his way to 62, exhibiting the patience of an experienced veteran whilst showing his age with inventive reverse sweeps.
Setting Durham a target of 296, Hampshire aimed to take ten wickets in 78 overs in order to move above Lancashire with a victory and secure Division One survival.
Mason Crane claimed the only scalp of the afternoon session though, as Durham halved Hampshire’s lead and went for tea at 149-1, with Mark Stoneman (81) at the helm of the visitors’ response.
We came into today with a lot of optimism and we wanted a fairy tale ending but it wasn’t to be. Durham played exceptionally well today and we’ve ended up on the wrong side of the result. It’s bitterly disappointing for us.
The bowlers bowled pretty well and it might have been different on another day, but we’ve come up against two highly skilled batsmen.
I’m proud of the team and I couldn’t have asked for any more from the players. There are lots of positives with plenty of young talent – it’s a shame because I think we deserved more than that. We know what to expect from this Division, it’s not easy. We’ll take stock, let the dust settle and make plans for next year.
We have some ambitious cricketers at this club and there’s a great spirit here.
Giles White, Director of Cricket
Crane, having threatened with limited success in the match, generated serious turn and rapped dangerman Keaton Jennings on the pad to reduce Durham to 75-1 in the 27th over. With 51 overs left in the day and the visitors needing 221 runs, Hampshire had reason to believe the match was theirs.
Stoneman batted with steely resolve though, as he reached fifty off 78 balls, and put on 75 runs with Scott Borthwick before tea to frustrate Hampshire’s bowlers, who deserved more than a single wicket from the session. Will Smith and Liam Dawson triggered cries from the slip cordon, but the finger was never raised.
The evening session brought more success for Hampshire’s bowlers, as Crane tripled his tally and Dawson found a way to defeat Stoneman, who had looked immovable before being caught impressively by Tom Alsop, fielding at short leg, on 133 runs.
Durham were all but confirmed winners, requiring 59 runs from the last 16 overs, but Crane managed to take two consolation wickets, as Hampshire restricted the visitors to 282-4.
The late effort wasn't quite enough, as Durham secured a six-wicket victory with three overs to spare.
