2016 Hampshire Thread

[st_brendy]

All in all, not a bad week. Yes we didn't win, yes we're still in the bottom two with just one game left now, yes we are (in my view) the favourites to go down. But we are right in with a chance now. More so than four days ago.

- We were just one point short in this game of the best possible tally without the 16 win points
- Durham and Warks both lost, picking up just one batting point between them
- We put on probably our best batting display of the season (albeit still issues with the aging openers)
- Our recent form continues to look quite solid (albeit no more), in stark contrast to Warks, Durham and Lancs
- Our bowlers now have a chance to put their feet up for a week, to hopefully come back as fresh as possible for one last push
- Ervine is possibly the most in form batsman in the division right now

Whatever happens, as Haggis alludes to, we'll be going into the final round of matches with a chance of staying up. The two games next week, whilst us and Warks sit by, will decide whether it's a two or three or four horse race. Similarly they'll decide whether a win for us against Durham will keep us up regardless of the Warks-Lancs result at the same time (or whether we'll be relying on help from that game) - and indeed whether a draw for us against Durham with an excellent haul of bonus points might even be enough, if someone it that Warks-Lancs match was to be bowled out for very little, and duly lose the game.

[st_brendy]

It's been a blast Tommo. Gonna miss you.

[haggishants]

Looking at the current state of play, the best thing for Hampshire is Durham win v Surrey so they don't need to try too hard next week, and Lancashire lose
to Middlesex with only 2 or 3 bowling points. Then it's a 3 horse race next week with Warks and Lancs left to slug it out while Hampshire win v Durham. Simple!

[budgetmeansbudget]

Has been discussed briefly on the Durham thread today.

As Captain says, if Durham are safe they may well rest some of their better players for their game against us.

[st_brendy]

Good news that Lancs dropped a bowling point, and they appear to have a long tail on paper, so an early wicket tomorrow morning for Middlesex could keep Lancs to under 200 too. Lancs walking away from this match with just two points would be brilliant for us.

If they do lose (and for argument sake say that they do manage to get to 200, but not 250), they'll move onto (in this example) 156 alongside Warks. That's 8 points ahead of us. If we beat Durham next week, we would need to take just ONE bonus point (and clearly that would happen - how can you win a match whilst taking zero bonus point?!!) to absolutely guarantee survival should there be a loser between Warks and Lancs (even if that loser was to take maximum bonus points). Not quite as straight forward if Warks and Lancs were to draw though. Before bringing bonus points into things, we'd be three points ahead of both of them. That should just about be enough, you wouldn't expect two sides who are drawing to both pick up at least three more bonus points than a side who wins does. But it wouldn't be certain.

[st_brendy]

Actually we wouldn't even need that ONE point. In the massively unlikely event that we were to tie Lancs or Warks on 164 points, we'd finish 7th by virtue of more wins (if tied with Warks) or fewer losses (if tied with Lancs).

[Arthur Crabtree]

A Hants win would make for a pretty interesting last day of the season.

Going to be tough to win though.

[st_brendy]

I still can't decide what I want from this Durham match! I guess a draw would be the worst of the three results - but still not a bad result.

Annoying that Lancs managed to (a) get to 250, and (b) haul themselves back into the match with some early second innings wickets. Could be difficult for Middlesex to have enough time to take 10 wickets later tomorrow from here - but not impossible that they get bowled out for not much, and Lancs knock off a low-ish target. That really would be a kick in the wotsits for us.

[haggishants]

Looks like Middlesex are already digging in for a draw. 2/over at the mo. Hopefully they'll get a move on soon and set Lancs a target.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Durham on course to beat Surrey at the moment so we can hope for them to rest a few players in the last game.

Middxs v Lancs looks like a draw so that will put Lancs 15 points clear of us.

I guess that means if we beat Durham in the last game a draw or a Lancs win in their game against Warwickshire should mean our survival. A Warwickshire win is a bit more complicated and will depend on bonus points.

Actually come to think of it, a draw between Lancs and Warwickshire could cause issues with bonus points as well. Too blooming complicated!

[budgetmeansbudget]

Then there's the scenario of us drawing against Durham and Warwickshire losing badly against Lancashire.

I'm sure Brendy has covered most eventualities!

[haggishants]

Commentary from Old Trafford reckons Middx are about to declare.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Commentary from Old Trafford reckons Middx are about to declare.

I noticed a clatter of wickets and the odd six hit, but they're batting on still.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Scoreboard has now frozen so maybe they have declared

[budgetmeansbudget]

Scoreboard has sprung back to life and Middx bat on.