Ervine Century Gives Hants The Upper Hand

Ervine hit his century off 137 balls (including 10 fours and one six)

Report from day one of Hampshire's LV= County Championship match against Glamorgan at The Ageas Bowl

Hampshire v Glamorgan
LV= County Championship
Day One: Wed 23 May 2012
The AGeas Bowl

Summary: Glamorgan trail Hampshire by 303 runs
with 10 wickets remaining in their first innings
Hampshire: 313
Glamorgan: 13-0 (7 ovs)
Scorecard

Hampshire Team
Adams, Dawson, Carberry, Katich, Vince, Ervine, Bates, Wood, Ali, Balcombe, Tomlinson
Glamorgan Team
James, Rees, Bragg, North, Wright, Allenby, Wallace, Cosker, Glover, Owen, Reed

A sublime innings of 109* from Sean Ervine (11 fours, one six) ensured Hampshire finished on 316 all out, and collected three bonus batting points on the opening day of their LV=County Championship game against Glamorgan at The Ageas Bowl.

The Zimbabwean-born all-rounder, who qualified for England earlier this year, was the shining light of the Hants innings and, despite enjoying a bit of luck on the way to his ton, he batted marvelously and sealed his maiden century of the season with a mighty six over long-on.

He was dropped on his first ball by Glamorgan skipper Mark Wallace with his side at 96-4, and then put down again on 76 by Michael Reed in the deep. 76, ironically enough, was one more than the total he scored in his last game against Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium, where Hampshire won by two wickets in April.

And he was also thankful for some superb final-wicket support from David Balcombe, who recorded his career-best Championship knock of 39 (8 fours). The partnership was worth 85.

Glamorgan had seven overs to see out against the Hampshire bowling attack and amassed 13 runs for no loss of wicket. That means they resume on day two trailing Hampshire by 303 runs in the first innings.

If you can not see this interview, listen to it here http://chirb.it/cGNeKe

It was the visitors who won the toss and elected to bowl on an extremely green track despite missing leading Championship club wicket-taker Huw Waters and the injured pair of James Harris and Graham Wagg from their seam attack.

Yet they weren't to be missed as John Glover opened the bowling for the visitors from the Northern End, and claimed two early wickets.

But with Jimmy Adams joined by Simon Katich, the batsmen warmed into things steadily rebuilding to ensure Hants reached 51-2 from 78 balls.

Michael Reed (0-66), playing just the third First-Class game of his career, and Jim Allenby stifled the left-handed duo in the middle overs of the first session before an exquisite cover drive from Katich brought up the fifty partnership after 108 balls.

Owen, however, trapped Katich (36) lbw shortly before lunch, and James Vince (9) followed just three balls after the break, caught behind off Glover.

To view this video content, please download the latest version of the Adobe Flash Player (http://www.adobe.com/go/getflash). If after installing the latest Flash Player you still cannot view the content, please ensure JavaScript is enabled within your browser.

Click on the image above to see highlights of this day's play

The following over, Adams (42) departed at the hands of Owen, again, as he played the ball onto his stumps and, at 96-5, Hampshire were in dire need of some stability.

Michael Bates, fresh off a century against Yorkshire in his previous outing, proceeded to thrash around the two Glamorgan wicket takers and accelerate the run-rate for Hampshire as Ervine held up an end.

Within eight overs, the 50 partnership had been established and, by the time Bates' (41 runs from 54 balls) cameo was abruptly cut short by Allenby (2-68), he and Ervine had clocked up a rapid 63 in a mere 13.3 overs.

Bates had fallen but Ervine remained and, despite pushing on effectively for his team, was helpless at the non-striker's end as Owen (4-87) took two wickets in successive deliveries to leave Hants 204-8.

But the experienced all-rounder put his nose to the grindstone and used all his guile and experience to bat with the tail, which included James Tomlinson's defiant 4 from 51 balls and Balcombe's extravagant shot-play to haul Hampshire to what Ervine defined as a well-above-par score on such a green wicket.

The visitors’ openers Gareth Rees (7*) and Nick James (6*) will resume on day two as Glamorgan closed the first day on 13-0. If you’re looking for omens, the Welsh side have just a single batting point from their opening six CC games while Hants have the highest bowling points in Division Two, with 17. Hopefully, a good day is in store tomorrow.