Sport Bears toil in field after early burst of wickets
JIMMY Adams and Sean Ervine recorded Hampshire’s best fourth wicket partnership against Warwickshire as the pair led a remarkable recovery for the hosts.
Adams and Ervine put on 263 together, which was also an Ageas Bowl record, as they helped the hosts recuperate from 31 for three to end the day on 294 without losing another wicket.
The experienced duo have been mainstays in the Hampshire line-up together for 11 years. And Adams batted out the whole day with a complete lack of interest in scoring runs quickly – instead preferring a survival mode which saw him offer little to the Warwickshire bowling attack.
Adams was in the team because of Liam Dawson and James Vince’s England Lions call-ups, after missing fixtures against Essex and Somerset.
As he reached fifty, from 156 balls, Adams reached an impressive landmark of 13,000 career first-class runs.
His remarkable patience was rewarded when he finally reached three figures in the 93rd over of the day – having faced 261 balls.
No.5 Ervine was also watchful at first but grew into his innings as he maturely dispatched what he dared – as Warwickshire began to toil after their frantic start.
The Zimbabwean drove, pulled and cut with perfect weight as he scored 50 off 82 balls and a century from 158 deliveries.
He returned to the hut unbeaten on 160, with Adams 104 not out.
Hampshire decided to bat having looked at the dry pitch, which offered a peculiar lighter shade patch on a spinners length at either end.
The decision looked foolish with Hampshire slumping to 31 for three within the first 10 overs.
The wicket seemed two-paced with the majority of balls early on appearing to struggle through to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose, but the occasional delivery speeding through.
Keith Barker, who took a five-wicket haul on the ground last year, looked a particular danger with his mediumfast bowling seaming both ways.
Michael Carberry was a frustrated victim of the slow pitch when he found himself at the pitch early before his leading edge looping up to Ian Bell at mid-on, Barker threatening to repeat his 2016 performance as he notched his 300th red ball scalp.
The left-armer produced a wicked delivery to see off Rilee Rossouw.
The South African failed to deal with a massive amount of in-seam to be rattled on his back pad by Barker.
Boyd Rankin joined the attack in the 10th over and within four balls used the inactive rebound off the pitch to cause George Bailey problems. The Australian swung early and chipped another simple catch to Bell, who was now on the off side.
After that, despite plenty of optimistic leg before appeals and close plays and misses, Ervine and Adams strode into the distance to hand Hampshire a solid foundation.
Warwickshire first team coach Jim Troughton said: “We knew it would be a good toss to win and get a bat out there and then we got them 30 for three and we thought we could get into them.
“But Adams and Sean showed their experience there and put on a great partnership for them.
“Whatever the ball did do it did slowly so it was hard work for our boys. I think Barks, Boyd and Clarkey all bowled exceptionally but they got the better of us in that partnership.
“We need to come back tomorrow hard and prise open a few wickets. The game hasn’t got away from us.” Motherwell. When I knew they were interested I was looking through their history.
“But I’m very excited and it’s a privilege to be here.”
Asked about his options, Bigirimana said there were other clubs interested.
He said: “Coventry have just been relegated and it’s my home club. There was some other interest, but none as strong as Motherwell.
“I had to make a big decision, because I got married last year and I just had a baby. It hasn’t been an easy decision. There have been a lot of tears and arguments.
“But we just want to make the best decision for our family.
“I was in Scotland at Rangers and I said to my wife, if there’s ever an opportunity to go back there, I’ll take it.
“Obviously I didn’t get to play when I was at Rangers; now I have an opportunity to experience the Scottish leagues.”
A statement on Coventry City’s website read: “Coventry City Football Club can confirm that midfielder Gael Bigirimana has agreed terms with Scottish side Motherwell and will join them following the conclusion of his contract with the Sky Blues on July 1.
“Coventry City would like to thank Gael for his contribution to the club on and off the field, and wish him the best for the future. “
Bigirimana earned rave reviews since returning to the side this season after a brief spell on the sidelines when he was regularly left out by former manager Russell Slade.
A consistent run of form saw him pick up numerous man of the match awards and two of Player of the Season gongs from the Former Players’ Association and the London Supporters’ Club.
The talented midfielder also scored in CCFC’s 2-1 Checkatrade Trophy Final win over Oxford United at Wembley.