By Grockle
August 15 2002

Ian Blackwell put us in command today by taking 5 for 49 in a game that seems to bob and weave between the sides. But we return the initiative to Hampshire with two late wickets to leave us at 56 for 2 effectively.

v HAMPSHIRE CC1@ THE ROSEBOWL AUGUST 14 2002

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

DAY THREE

DAY FOUR

It's our day to stamp authority on this game and put ourselves in a winning position.  Hampshire are 15 for nothing and we have a full bowling attack (although I'd personally rather see Jones in the side than Francis but he's shopping in Taunton while our season requires the maximum effort!) and it starts soooo well!!

Johnson and Laney are both gone with only another 10 on the board. 25 for 1 - Johnson LBW Johnson (a symmetery to that I think).  25 for 2  Caddick gets Laney caught behind.  Things are looking up!!  Enter Kendall and Smith who take hold of the helm and steer the Hampshire ship towards the calmer waters of safety....  they put on 83 before Smith becomes Blackwell's first victim as he is bowled for 52.  Kendall adds another 41 before he becomes Blackwell's second via the hands of Turner.  That good start has become 149 for 4.

Pothas doesn't last long as Caddick gets in on the act and our trusty wicky catches another.  154 for 5.  Francis and Aymes try to reassert Hampshire's supremacy but Turner catches another and Blackwell gets his third at 171.  Matt Bulbeck decides to get his name on the sheet and bowls Mascarenhas for 3 at 182 but Udal sees his side beyond 200 before Johnson has him LBW for 10 at 206.  Francis reaches 53 before he's the next to trudge back giving Blackwell his fourth but Tremlett holds up procedures while we try manfully to get rid of Mullally at the other end. Finally at 236 with Tremlett on 16, Blacky finally gets his five-fer and we have a lead of 42 on first innings and 11 overs to face before building on this on Day Three.  Excellent figures for Ian Blackwell 31/12/5/49.  He has bowled much better this year.  Caddick took two for 61 off 22 and Johnson did better in his 22 with 2 for 53.  Francis only bowled 8 for a decent 32 and Bulbeck only turned his arm over for ten, although 1 for 22 ain't bad.   Keith Parsons played change bowler putting in three - why did we go into this game with so many seamers?

A good days work which could have been better after a great early start.  However, we did the job and got them out for less than they got us out for and that has to be a start.  Cox and Wood come out to bat out the day and face Mullally, Tremlett and Udal (why didn't we play two spinners if Udal is doing so well?).  It looked good for about 15 minutes but we were effectively 50 for 1 when Wood went caught behind to Mullally for another single figure score (3).  No addition to the score and we are two down!   Cox is caught by Laney off Udal (why are we playing so many seamers?) for 5 - 15 balls, two scoring shots - out of form or what?  Mike Burns is left to sort out the day with nightwatchman Matt Bulbeck and they managed to add 6 more before the end of the day.

Take the initiative away early (25 for 2), then give it back (149 for 4), take it away again (all out 236) then let them go in for the evening thinking that they have a chance by not playing the game safely and giving them two evening wickets.  Better be a good Third Day with the old willow if we are not to see another Sussex methinks!  It leaves a bad taste at the end but we did win the day....didn't we?