Dawson Makes an Instant Impression

Hampshire batsman scores ton and takes seven wickets in first Zimbabwe game

Hampshire batsman, Liam Dawson has already shown his Zimbabwean team-mates at the Mountaineers what he can do, scoring an unbeaten 110 in his first innings for his winter team then taking seven wickets in the second innings (full scorecard).

Opening their Castle Logan Cup campaign (Zimbabwe’s First Class competition) against the Mashonaland Eagles, the Wiltshire-born 21 year old held his team’s innings together as the only batsman to make it beyond 35.

Batting second, Dawson’s century (off 213 balls, including nine 4s and two 6s) ensured the Mountaineers got to within touching distance of the Eagles’ first innings total, eventually falling 44 runs short at the half-way stage.

He then followed that with an incredible seven wickets in his second innings with the ball. His left arm spin accounted for two lbws and two caught behinds as well as having three players caught in the field. By the time a loopy delivery saw Forster Mutizwa – the only opposition player to offer up any real resistance with 83 - trapped in front attempting to sweep on one knee, Dawson had practically single-handedly limited his opponents to 212.

That leaves the Mountaineers with a target of 251 to chase down on day four for victory with all their second innings wickets in hand.

Dawson went to Zimbabwe hoping to pick up where he left off with Hampshire at the end of last season. He had finished the Championship campaign with an unbeaten first-innings 152 against Warwickshire – a second ton of a campaign in which he finished as the Rose Bowl side’s third-highest run-scorer.

Hampshire have several players involved in action abroad this summer with Neil McKenzie returning to the Highveld Lions having topped the SuperSport Series’ run-scoring charts last year and new signing Simon Katich still in action for New South Wales as well as Dawson’s spell in Zimbabwe. There may also be stints for Dimitri Mascarenhas and Sean Ervine (neither of which are confirmed as yet) as well as potential International duties for a number of Hampshire players.

rosebowlplc.com will keep you up to date with their progress throughout the winter so keep checking back to find out how your Hampshire heroes are getting on.

Words: Simon Vincent
Images: NJM Photography

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