Barker stars in record-breaking Ageas Bowl batting collapse
Northamptonshire’s LV=Insurance County Championship batting woes continued as they were bowled out for 56 – the lowest total in the Ageas Bowl’s 22-year history.
Hampshire fast bowler Keith Barker was their main tormentor as he pilfered 4-13 in his 12 overs, while Mohammad Abbas and Ian Holland grabbed two wickets each.
Only Saif Zaib managed to reach double figures – scoring 29 – with four of his teammates falling for ducks as they scored one run fewer than Hampshire’s 57 against Kent on the ground last season.
It meant they gave up a 311run first innings deficit, after Hampshire had been bowled out for 367, with close seeing a further two wickets fall - the score 50-2 with Hampshire's lead now 261.
Northants have claimed just a solitary batting point in five matches so far, with totals of 72, 63 (also v Hampshire) and now 56.
Their day started horrendously as Hassan Azad was barbequed by Gay and run out without facing a ball in the first over – Mason Crane’s brilliant direct hit at point splattering the stumps.
No words were spoken as Azad trudged off, while Gay would frenetically go on to get dropped at second slip before taking on an Abbas bouncer, only to stick it straight down deep square leg Fletcha Middleton’s throat.
Sam Whiteman would also fall lbw to Barker as Northants
lunched on 18-3.
That 11-over stint saw the very best of left-armer Barker. His six overs returned 1-4 and included only one scoring shot – off the penultimate ball of the session.
Barker returned from lunch hungry for wickets and had Ricardo Vasconcelos lbw when walking across his stumps.
The former Warwickshire man then produced a double wicket maiden – his seventh maiden in 12 overs – where he found Keogh pushing to third slip and James Sales beaten for pace.
Tom Taylor was caught low down at fourth slip off Abbas and Jordan Buckingham edged Holland to second slip to continue the collapse.
Zaib had replicated the steady Hampshire batting approach from the first day, where the pitch had seemed slow and patience was needed to pick the moments to score. With partners running out he advanced and slapped to cover.
Hampshire’s bowling attack is without Kyle Abbott and James Fuller for this match – due to knee trouble and illness – and that meant Championship debutant
John Turner and leg-spinner Crane were promoted into the team.
Turner bowled with decent pace in his first 3.2 overs before he ended the sorry Northamptonshire innings by knocking back Jack White’s off stump.
It was their second-lowest total of the 21st century and lowest ever at Hampshire.
Rain knocked 27 overs off the day, but the belated start to the second innings saw Gay once again put down at second slip and Azam complete a same-day pair – although this time at least faced seven balls before Barker pinned him lbw.
Earlier, Hampshire added 36 runs and lost their four remaining wickets, as they gained a third batting bonus point.