Friends Provident Trophy Semi Final v Lancashire 5th July

Hampshire win by 64 runs.

The day of Hampshire’s first big away game of the season has dawned bright and clear after overnight rain in Manchester. As Hawks’ fans make their way north, those staying at home can look forward to completely biased online reports, updated every 15 minutes or so during the day. We hope you will be able to join us.

10.20: Teams and toss

Hampshire players have completed their warm ups and up until the toss were busy in the nets at the far side of the ground from the media centre. Hamza Riazuddin is part of the squad, having been briefly recalled from England Under 19 duty, but I understand that the team will be picked at the last minute once playing conditions have been judged. Duncan Fletcher has also been in evidence helping out with the pre-match preparations.

Hampshire’s team is: Lumb, Adams, Ervine, Carberry, Benham, Dawson, Mascarenhas, Pothas, Cork, Tahir and Tremlett.

Lancashire Lightning won the toss and will bowl.
 

10:40:

5 minutes to go until Michael Lumb takes strike for The Hawks.

Hawks fans will be hoping for another great start from the opening pairing of Lumb and Adams who both have a look of relaxed intensity about them.

11.05:

Hampshire’s first scoring shot of the game was off the 12th ball, when Jimmy Adams got Kyle Hogg away for a boundary to deep mid wicket. The Lancashire opening pair of Glenn Chapple and Hogg had been bowling tightly up until then, but the shackles seemed to have been broken.

Singles (including some extras) came off Chapple but Adams in particular enjoyed Hogg’s second over sending a 4 to long off and then a stylish hook towards deep point that was cut off and earned him only 3. Meanwhile Michael Lumb seemed doomed to find the Lancashire fielders.

At the end of 5 overs Hampshire were 21 for 0, with Adams on 16 and Lumb on 2.

11.25: 

It was almost as though Lumb was giving Lancashire fielding practice, making great strokes all around the wicket and finding safe hands every time, whether they be in the ring or on the boundary. Adams had more luck, taking another confident boundary off Hogg as soon as he took the strike and by the end of 8th over had scored 25 of Hampshire’s 35 runs. There was almost a sense that Lancashire are targeting Lumb and in doing so leaving Adams to get away.

But in the 9th Chapple delivered a ball that enabled Lumb to evade all the fielders by lofting it high over their heads and scoring the first 6 of the game. The end of the over brings up Hampshire’s 50 and all of a sudden Lumb has almost caught his opening partner up, with 20 runs to his name.

Hogg was taken out of the attack in the 10th over, being replaced by Sajid Mahmood. The Hampshire batsmen took time to get used to his pace, turning singles before Adams struck a fine 4 to deep square leg off his last ball.

At the end of the 10th over Hampshire were 57 for 0, with Adams on 31 and Lumb on 22.

11.45:

This is what we've come to expect from the opening pairing of Lumb and Adams this summer, taking the attack to the bowlers and not allowing them to settle at all. Adams has rotated the strike well and has taken some of the boundary pressure off Lumb, in particular a pick up shot over square leg off the seering pace of Saj Mahmood.

Lumb brought up his 50 (47 balls) with a flick over short fine leg for four.

At the 15 over mark Hampshire are 104 for no wicket.

Lumb 52 not out, Adams 48 not out

12.00:

At the beginning of the 16th over Lancashire tried the surprise tactic of bringing on Francois du Plessis to bowl. Very much the part timer, he had only bowled 4 overs in this year’s competition up until this game. However the tactic worked and Hampshire were only able to take 2 runs.

Adams’ 50 came up in the17th, off Gary Keedy, and included 5 fours and a six. Du Plessis was effective in keeping the run rate down but Adams and Lumb were still able to score freely off Keedy and keep the run rate moving along. Hungry for wickets, the Lancashire crowd were left to applaud every example of tight fielding instead.

However du Plessis’ good figures were ruined by Adams’ six over long on at the end of the 20th over. Hampshire now 134 for 0 with Lumb on 64 and Adams on 66.

12.15:

The mood in the dressing room is very good, and why wouldn't it be the way Adams and Lumb are playing.

Former Hampshire captain Shaun Udal has just come into the changing rooms to show his support for the boys.

Jimmy Adams has just fallen to a breathtaking catch from du Plessis for 78. What a fantastic innings from the local boy!

Hampshire are 159 for 1 - Lumb 76 not out, Carberry 0 not out.

12.40:

The beginning of the 25th over heralded the end of Lancashire’s slow bowling by the re-introduction of Mahmood for Keedy. The change worked as Adams cut him straight to du Plessis at square leg for a masterful 78 off 71 balls. But Carberry was soon off the mark with a single glanced towards fine leg. At the half way point Hampshire were 162 for 1.

In the 27th Mahmood struck again as Lumb chipped a shot to the delighted Lancashire captain, Chapple, leaving Hampshire on 168 for 2 and ending his fine innings of 76. Clearly a nervy time for Hampshire as two new batsmen need to settle in.

Carberry wasted little time at the beginning of Hogg’s second over by striking a 4 cleanly to deep mid wicket, but Ervine was taking his time to get the measure of the bowler. Unfortunately Carberry was out lbw to Keedy in the 29th and there was some comment in the media centre that the decision was probably a little harsh, but it left Hampshire on 180 for 3.

13.00:

Ervine is bowled by Gary Keedy for 12 with the score on 203 after trying to slog sweep him into the pavilion.

The Hawks must be targeting a score around the 300 mark to really put pressure on the Lancashire batsmen. It's going to take a decent partnership from Benham and Dawson to see Hampshire to a score anywhere near where they want to be.

After 35 overs Hampshire are 207 for 4.

13.20:

With Dawson new to the wicket it was a quiet time for Hampshire, focussing on rotating the strike rather than hitting out. However in the 37th Keedy struck again, with Dawson plumb lbw for 6 and The Hawks 215 for 5.

Incoming batsman Nic Pothas opened his account with a swept 4 off du Plessis, clearly looking to increase the run rate again. Keedy finished his 10 overs with figures of 49 for 3 and Hampshire were doubtless pleased to see the back of him.

The 40th over was bowled by Mahmood and Hampshire took 5 off it to increase their score to 232 for 5.

The instant Benham (29) was caught behind off Chapple in the 41st,  the players come off for rain. But it shouldn't be a long delay!

13.30:

Good news - the covers are coming off already and play will resume at 13.45 with no overs lost.

14:00:

Nic Pothas departs for 15 leaving The Hawks on 247-7. Its gonna be a tough ask to get 300 now, 280 seems a more realistic target for the boys to aim for. All the guys are hoping to see some fireworks from Mascarenhas and Cork aswe get down to the business end of the innings.

Hampshire are 253 for 7 in the 45th.

14.20:

Hampshire had no option but to take the batting powerplay for the last 5 overs. Cork in particular was keen to capitalise by making every single into two runs, and the 46th over proved expensive as Mahmood went for 8.

Chapple brought himself back on and after one play and miss by his former colleague had Cork caught behind for 6 by tumbling wicketkeeper Luke Sutton. Soon after, Mascarenhas holed out to Hogg off Mahmood for 13 and Hampshire’s chances of batting out their overs and posting a really competitive total diminished rapidly. Imran Tahir immediately flayed a ball behind him for 4, seemingly determined to add to the score quickly or perish in the attempt. He did just that in the 49th over when he skied a catch to Keedy  off Chapple and Hampshire finished 271 all out.

16.30: After the wifi at Old Trafford was fixed...

It was inevitable Dominic Cork would open Hampshire’s bowling attack and Paul Horton inside edged his first ball for 4. But it was his captain, Mascarenhas, who got the breakthrough with his first ball as Horton edged again, this time into the safe hands of Michael Lumb at first slip.

But Cork was causing his former team mates problems as Mal Loye failed to get him away until the 5th ball of his second over, when he struck a 4 to square leg. VVS Laxman found Mascarenhas was even more difficult as the 4th over was a maiden.

However after that the Lancashire batsmen seemed to find their rhythm and by the time Chris Tremlett was brought into the attack in the 9th over they had taken the score to 36 for 1 and the home crowd were becoming increasingly vocal. Laxman gave Benham a hard chance off Mascarenhas, but by the end of the 10th over Lancashire had scored 45 for 1 against Hampshire’s 57 for 0 at the same point.

With Tremlett relatively fresh into the attack Hampshire took their powerplay straight away. The end of the 12th over was especially frustrating for Mascarenhas as the ball literally bobbled over the stumps and ran away towards the boundary. Lancashire took 30 runs off the five overs, finishing on 76 for 1 with Laxman having increased his tally to 34.

Hampshire were quick to introduce Tahir into the attack and were rewarded almost immediately by the wicket of Loye who was lbw for 31. Ervine came on to bowl the 19th, and with Pothas standing up to the stumps restricted the potential for any extravagant stroke play. Lancashire’s score after 20 overs was 92 for 2, 42 behind Hampshire’s.

Lancashire’s 100 came up in the 22nd, but it took another over for their boundary drought to end when Chilton hit Ervine through square leg. But his pleasure was short lived as he top edged to Carberry for 18 a few balls later.

16.45:

At the end of the 25th over Lancashire were 114 for 3, with Dawson and Ervine bowling tightly. Laxman reached his 50 in the 27th, but then disaster struck for Lancashire when du Plessis was brilliantly caught off Ervine by the diving Jimmy Adams for just 5. In the 30th Laxman (54) went in the same way, with a superb instinctive catch again by Adams, but this time off Dawson.

With the score on 123 for 5 in the 30th, and the required rate hovering at around 7 an over, Hampshire’s sharp bowling and fielding are giving us hope.

17.00:

As it stands, there is absolutely no doubt that Hampshire are on top! With a required run rate of 8 runs per over, Lancashire have it all to do here at old Trafford.

It almost feels as if The Hawks are only one wicket away from really going through this Lancashire line up.

As it stands, after 35 overs Lancashire are 147 for 5, needing 125 more for victory.

17.15:

The Lancashire batsmen have no option but to attack Hampshire’s spinners, with Dawson and Tahir bowling in tandem, but boundaries are still few and far between. Steven Croft managed to launch a ball back over Dawson’s head in the 38th, but the required rate has now crept above 9. Unlike my more confident colleague on the players’ balcony I dare not tempt fate – Lancashire are still in with a chance.

Mascarenhas brings himself back for the 40th over, and the change brings the wicket of Luke Sutton, lbw for 22. Lancashire are left needing 101 runs off the last 10 overs.

17.25:

Glen Chapple GONE!!! Great stumping by Pothas off the bowling of Tahir.

Come on you Hawks, nearly there!

Lancashire are 189-7, needing 82 off 7.3 overs

17.27:

Tahir you beauty!!!!!

Croft bowled by the googly - Lancs 191-8

17.45:

Amazing win for Hampshire – hugs all round on the pitch as the last Lancashire wicket falls. Suddenly, the home fans fall silent, although the members at least stand to clap Hampshire back into the pavilion. Lord’s here we come.

(A more considered appreciation of the game will be published later - but for the moment - good on you, Hawks!)

By Jane Cable in the media centre and Kevin Latouf on the players' balcony

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