Hampshire victorious again as bowlers wrap up match before lunchtime

IN-FORM Hampshire wrapped up their second emphatic victory of the County Championship season before lunch on Sunday as Middlesex lost their last six wickets for 82 runs.

Resuming the day on 208-4, the visitors lost overnight batsmen Robbie White and Martin Andersson within the first half-hour to Ian Holland, ending any faint hopes of trying to save the match.

Holland, who scored 210 runs in the game, trapped White lbw for 71 in the second over of the morning, then found the edge of Martin Andersson’s bat on his way to figures of 3-19. Hampshire skipper James Vince took the new ball after 11 overs and pace spearheads Kyle Abbott and Mohammad Abbas struck immediately, with Toby RolandJones, John Simpson and Nathan Sowter all departing in quick succession as five wickets fell for 37 runs in just under an hour.

Spinner Liam Dawson then wrapped up the match by ending Ethan Bamber’s stubborn resistance for 24.

The victory, which comes on the back of last week’s win over Leicestershire, is the first time since 2004 that Hampshire have boasted a 100% record after the first two rounds of the season.

Vince, who was out for single figures in both innings following on from his double-century at Grace Road, said it was pleasing to see a number of players contributing to the win.

Abbas was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with match figures of 9-39, with Holland and Sam Northeast scoring their first centuries of the season.

“With the balance of the side we have with four very good seamers and two spinners we do feel like we have all conditions covered and we can hopefully roll the momentum to next week,” Vince said.

“Over the course of the season you can’t rely on one or two players, so to have so many guys contributing is a good sign.

“It’s a good place to be and hopefully we can keep this going over the next few months and build on the start we’ve had.”

Middlesex skipper Steve Eskinazi revealed tears flowed in the dressing room following a no-holds-barred meeting after the team were bundled out for 79 on day two, but hoped the improved showing with the bat in the fourth innings can build some confidence following last week’s dispiriting loss to Somerset.

“We have to sit down and take accountability and responsibility and it was unbelievably confronting for the group of players in that room,” Eskinazi said. “It was hugely emotional for each and every single person in the dressing room and if anyone out there doesn’t believe that they are kidding themselves.

“If we batted better in the first innings and scored 280 runs batting fourth then it would have been a win for the ages, so we have to take those positives.”