Hampshire v Cardiff MCCU
Friendly
Mon 5 – Weds 7 May (11:00am Start)
The Ageas Bowl (Nursery Ground)
Summary: Hampshire drew with Cardiff MCCU
Hampshire: 383-8 dec & 212-3 dec
Cardiff MCCU: 173 all-out & 165-4
Scorecard
Hampshire drew their friendly against Cardiff MCCU after a rain-affected third and final day at The Ageas Bowl’s Nursery Ground.
The home side added 11 runs to their overnight score as centurion Lewis McManus (106*) and Tom Alsop (39*) led Hampshire to 212-3 declared.
David Balcombe (2-34) did take two early wickets to give Hampshire a sniff of victory, but unfortunately the players were regularly interrupted by the rain.
A run-out and Danny Briggs’ first wicket of the match did leave Hampshire needing six wickets for victory, but an excellent unbeaten 72 from Cardiff opener Jake Libby (72*) saw the visitors through to stumps on 165-4.
Despite not achieving the result Hampshire had hoped, there was certainly plenty of positive performances to take into in the next match against Glamorgan, starting this Sunday (11th May).
Day two
Summary: Hampshire lead Cardiff MCCU by 411 runs
with seven wickets remaining
Hampshire: 383-8 dec & 201-3
Cardiff MCCU: 173 all-out
Scorecard
19-year old Lewis McManus (102*) hit a second century in as many days as Hampshire took control on day two of their friendly against Cardiff MCCU at The Ageas Bowl’s Nursery Ground
Fast-bowler David Balcombe (5-49) earlier staked his claim for a spot in the Hampshire’s side with five wickets on day two of the friendly against Cardiff MCCU at The Ageas Bowl’s Nursery Ground.
The 29-year old and fellow seamer Tom Barber (4-38) bowled brilliantly as the home side dismissed Cardiff for 173, still trailing Hampshire by 210 runs.
McManus reached his ton in 176 balls (16 fours) as the home side moved to 201-3 at stumps, a huge lead of 411 runs.
After spending almost the whole of day one in the field, it was certainly going to be a big test for Cardiff in their attempts to chase down Hampshire’s hefty first innings total on day two. Unfortunately for Cardiff, Balcombe was looking to impressive form – regularly finding those nagging areas.
Unsurprisingly it was Balcombe who picked up the first two wickets of the day to keep Hampshire in the ascendancy. And Hampshire were really on top when fellow fast-bowler Barber picked up two wickets in an over to leave Cardiff 69-5.
However, timely knocks from Greg Holmes (42) and Aron Nijjar (46) did help the visitors reach a more respectable total. Though it was Balcombe and Barber who had the last laugh as Cardiff were dismissed for 173, still trailing Hampshire by 210 runs.
Despite Holmes (2-34) picking up the wickets of Michael Bates (26) and Joe Gatting (25) to cap off a decent day for the 20-year old, McManus continued to show his big potential with the bat by reaching his century before the day was out.
He batted brilliantly once again and was well-supported by Tom Alsop (32*), who helped lead Hampshire to 201-3 at stumps, a lead of 411 runs.
day one
Summary: Cardiff MCCU trail Hampshire by 370 runs with
nine wickets remaining in their first innings
Hampshire: 383-8 declared
Cardiff MCCU: 13-1
Scorecard
Hampshire:
Alsop, Bates, Balcombe, Barber, Brathwaite, Briggs (c), Gatting, Hose, Taylor, McManus, West.
Cardiff:
Libby, Dyson, Qureshi, Griffiths, Thomson (c), Holmes, Bracey, Bull, Nijjar, Powell, Adams.
Wicketkeeper-Batsman Lewis McManus (108) hit an impressive century as Hampshire made a positive start on day one of the three-day friendly against Cardiff MCCU at The Ageas Bowl’s Nursery Ground.
Michael Bates (64) continued his promising form with a fluent half-century in the morning session to give the home side a solid base.
McManus then reached his century in 192 balls (17 fours) as he and Tom Alsop (53) helped Hampshire reach 383-8 declared.
David Balcombe (1-6) then took a wicket late in the day as Cardiff finished on 13-1, trailing Hampshire by 370 runs at stumps.
In this fixture’s pre-match interview, Bates spoke of his new-found confidence in his batting. And this certainly showed early on as he and McManus put on 119 for the second wicket after the early loss of trialist Aaron West (8).The pair looked comfortable at the crease throughout – which makes Bates’ relatively soft dismissal to off-spinner Keiran Bull (2-82) even more frustrating.
Like Bates, McManus has shown some promising early season form. But more than anything, it was his calm and collected manner which will have impressed the on-looking Hampshire coaching staff as he rarely looked troubled in his 242 minute stay at the crease.
18-year old Alsop, who recently signed a two-year Development Contract at the Club, played some eye-catching shots to keep the Hampshire score ticking along in the middle overs. This, alongside 32 from Joe Gatting and 22 from Adam Hose did propel Hampshire past 300 before two wickets for seamer Sean Griffiths (2-84) threatened a mini-collapse for the home side in the evening session.
However, the tail wagged for Hampshire with powerful hitting from Danny Briggs (39*) and Ruel Brathwaite (15) leading the home side to 383-8 declared.
The decision to declare with 30 minutes to spare did pay off for Hampshire, but with the last ball of the match as Balcombe dismissed Jake Libby (9) to signify stumps on day one.