Hampshire 2018 thread

[budgetmeansbudget]

No surprise this batting lineup wasn't up to it.

[st_brendy]

No surprise this batting lineup wasn't up to it.

Indeed.

Adams, Ervine, Weatherley, McManus, Taylor. What are these guys doing in a D1 batting line-up?

And then you throw in the fact that they're up against one of the best seam attacks in county cricket in recent years.

[st_brendy]

Bad light ends the day 8 overs early. I don't know if a decision was made over the FO or not. If not, then I wonder whether this bad light influences Surrey's decision?

[st_brendy]

FO was enforced

[budgetmeansbudget]

FO was enforced

Let's hope we can do what Notts are doing against Somerset!!!!

[budgetmeansbudget]

Vince stumped, not really what was required in the circumstances.

[budgetmeansbudget]

And now Weatherly run out, brilliant.

This will be over today and Surrey are heading for the top of the table.

We on the other hand look favourites to be relegated with Worcestershire. Missing our top run scorer badly, Steyn is not the replacement we needed. When is Sam Northeast due back, we're desperate.

[st_brendy]

And now Weatherly run out, brilliant.

This will be over today and Surrey are heading for the top of the table.

We on the other hand look favourites to be relegated with Worcestershire. Missing our top run scorer badly, Steyn is not the replacement we needed. When is Sam Northeast due back, we're desperate.

Expectation is that he'll miss the next one against Yorks, but then be available for Lancs after that. But given that there is just a ONE DAY break in between the two matches, it won't take much for that expectation to change. It could easily be that he plays both, or neither.

Thankfully, Yorkshire will have most of their side playing ODI or Lions cricket. Whilst Lancs will be without Jimmy, Buttler, Livingstone and Parkinson. (We'll technically miss Topley and Dawson. But Topley would be missing anyway, given that he's on a red ball only contract, and we dropped Dawson for this week.)

That was a serious Surrey side we faced today. They blew us away like Essex blew us (and others) away last season (and at times this season). If they stay fit and available - and remember, they did that without Elgar, or a replacement for Elgar - I'd expect them to win the title. But it doesn't hide the fact our batting looks awful both on paper, and in reality. It's nothing against Steyn whatsoever, but replacing Amla with a bowler (any bowler) can only be justified if they're taking 4+ wickets pretty much every innings.

[st_brendy]

Northeast made 28 and 50 today for the 2nd XI (t20 matches).

Ignore the runs, and the level of cricket. The fact that he was back out on the field is very good news. Possibly ahead of schedule? Possibly in contention to feature in the SF on Monday?

[st_brendy]

Well Northeast is indeed back tomorrow.

But Alsop, Taylor and Crane are all injured!

I guess it solves two problems: (1) who drops out for Northeast, and (2) who to leave out between Topley, Wood, Steyn. In the case the latter, all three of them surely now play.

The only decision left is whether we go with Adams or Holland. I suspect we'll go with Jimmy, and play just the five bowlers - partly because Holland hasn't played a single minute of first team action this season, because of his injury (and besides, five seamers, plus Dawson, would seem a little excessive). But I don't think it's certain.

[st_brendy]

Boom!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Well done chaps. Favourites for the final I think.

[st_brendy]

Well done chaps. Favourites for the final I think.

Thanks. I'd suggest that Kent have got a greater number of quality batters - we rely heavily on just three - but our bowling attack is of better quality than theirs.

Should be a good final though, because overall two closely matched sides. I'm hoping the fact that Vince, Adams, Wood and Dawson have won multiple finals for us before will count for something. And generally, exceptionally close finals!

[Durhamfootman]

well done, boys. enjoy your final

[captaincolly]

well done, boys. enjoy your final