Final Day Draw Shows Hampshire Steel
Neil McKenzie celebrates a century on his way to an unbeaten 115
Match Report from day four of Hampshire's LV= County Championship match against Warwickshire at The Rose Bowl
Hampshire v Warwickshire
LV= County Championship
Day Four: Thursday 15 September 2011
The Rose Bowl
Summary: Match Drawn
Warwickshire: 493
Hampshire: 324 & 327-7
Full Scorecard
Table
Hampshire Team
Adams*, Carberry, Dawson, Ervine, McKenzie, Vince, Bates+, Mascarenhas, Briggs, Wood, Tomlinson
Warwickshire Team
Chopra, Westwood, Porterfield, Chanderpaul, Troughton*, Ambrose+, Clarke, Woakes, Metters, Rankin, Wright
An excellent fourth wicket partnership worth 182 between Michael Carberry (111) and Neil McKenzie (115*) scuppered Warwickshire’s title charge and earned a valiant draw for an already relegated Hampshire side on the final day of this roller-coaster summer of County Cricket at The Rose Bowl.
The pair batted the whole morning session and the majority of the second to frustrate a Bears side that needed to win today to top the table with Lancashire securing an eight wicket win over Somerset at Taunton.
Both made centuries – the South African ending unbeaten – as Hampshire racked up 327-7 having been asked to follow on, leaving Warwickshire to wonder what might have been had their first innings not lasted 156 overs.
The result leaves Hampshire with seven points, Warwickshire with nine, and though the table might suggest otherwise, it will be Hampshire who leave this match with the greater enjoyment.
Michael Carberry reacts to a good draw and a personal century
Any Lancashire fans who feared a Hampshire collapse early on day four - which ultimately would have handed Warwickshire the Championship - would have been pleased as Carberry and McKenzie performed in the way that they do best, their batting betraying their experience and coolness under pressure.
When the pair came together at the crease last night with Hampshire on 28-3 it looked as if Warwickshire would have a simple task but these two trust each other intrinsically and had reached a 150 run partnership at lunch.
Afterwards, Carberry reached his 26th First Class century in 152 balls including 14 fours as well as one huge maximum. He was harshly given out, though, on 111 as a delivery from Chris Woakes hit him high on the pads. The umpire raised the finger and Carberry was making his way back to the pavilion having scored a total of 793 runs this season at an average of 56.64 – that’s a frankly incredible return having missed more than half of the campaign through illness.
Click on the image above to see video highlights of this day's play
James Vince also contributed with a steady 33 from 48 balls as Hampshire continued to halt Warwickshire’s charge for the title. But after Vince departed, Neil McKenzie took charge of proceedings with the bat, bringing up his own ton off 211 balls (including 12 fours), celebrating with fellow Southern African, Sean Ervine (20) by his side, who shoved him playfully by way of congratulations!
With Lancashire on the verge of victory against Somerset and Hampshire ahead by 158 with 11 overs remaining at The Rose Bowl, Warwickshire were forced to accept that it was not going to be their day. And so, at exactly 17.00hrs the team captains got together and decided to call this match a draw.
The history books will show this performance to be of little consequence to a side that is going down mostly due to their early season form. But, having never given up, dug out results in the most unlikely places - and at most unlikely times - and fought all the way to the end this day may prove to have the galvanizing effect on a young squad that will be looking to bounce straight back next year.
Words: Ryan Day
Images: NJM Photography
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