Dimi Hits 50 as Hants Battle the Elements

Aug 12 2011

Durham v Hampshire
LV= County Championship
Day Three: Friday 12 August 2011
The Rose Bowl

Summary: Hampshire lead Durham by 230 runs
with four wickets remaining in their first innings
Hampshire: 230-6

Hampshire Team
Adams*, Dawson, Carberry, McKenzie, Vince, Ervine, Mascarenhas, Wood, Bates⁺, Ali, Tahir

Durham Team
Di Venuto, Smith, Stoneman, Muchall, Benkenstein, Blackwell, Mustard⁺*, Thorp, Claydon, Rushworth, Onions

Two valuable partnerships, featuring half-centuries from Dimi Mascarenhas (50) and Neil McKenzie (90) helped Hampshire to a decent score of 230-6 on day three of this LV= County Championship match against Durham.

It was heartening to see both partnerships involving one of Hants' youngsters and one of their seasoned pros as McKenzie and James Vince put on 78 for the fourth wicket and Mascarenhas and Michael Bates put on 72 for the 6th.

In the process, the visitors picked up their first batting point (as compared to Durham's two bowling points so far) but the three additional points on offer for a draw seem an unappealing carrot to dangle in front of either side.

If we are to get a result there's going to have to be a cleverly judged declaration from stand-in skipper Jimmy Adams tomorrow to set it up.

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Having had our start delayed until 1pm, McKenzie wasted no time in tying down the 50 that had been eluding him for the best part of two days when, with his first scoring shot of the match he glanced one down to fine leg for four. And Vince also opened his account for the day with a square-cut boundary off the next ball; things shaping up very nicely for the visitors.

Indeed, the youngster was looking fluent, notching up the majority of the runs as Hampshire moved through the 100 barrier with McKenzie’s second four, sliced through point. But the partnership would be broken when Vince (19) was forced to retire with a back spasm.

And, soon, both his replacement, Sean Ervine (3) and McKenzie would also be back in the pavilion – the former run-out by an impressive shy at the stumps from Mark Stoneman while the latter edged Chris Rushworth behind to Durham captain, Phil Mustard.

That brought the new partnership of Bates and Mascarenhas to the crease and almost immediately the elder statesman of the two began doing what he does best, crashing 20 of his first 27 runs past the ropes – scored around a run-a-ball. Bates, meanwhile, was content to support with a measured 14 off 52 before bad light brought the players off for an early tea.

Twenty minutes after the re-start, a well-run three took Hampshire through the 200 barrier and to that batting point - before a double helped Dimi to his half century (64 balls, nine 4s.) Almost immediately, Mitch Claydon got his revenge as Mascarenhas edged behind leaving Hampshire 215-6.

Bates (28*) and new man Chris Wood (7*) held out until bad light called them off at 5pm and that would be where it remains. Bates, in particular will be delighted with his knock given that Essex wicketkeeper and Hampshire target James Foster had, earlier in the afternoon, announced a new three-year deal with the Chelmsford-based club. 

Words: Simon Vincent
Images: NJM Photography

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