Orr starts to deliver with first ton for Hampshire
New boy Ali Orr began to fulfil the expectations placed on him with a smart maiden Hampshire century as he led a positive batting day for his side against Durham in the Vitality County Championship.
Opening batter Orr, who controversially moved from boyhood club Sussex in the winter, expertly amassed 126 at the Utilita Bowl yesterday. It was his first Championship hundred since September 2022 and his fifth all told.
Tom Prest’s whirlwind 65 not out gave the opening day to the hosts, who ended on 336-4.
It hadn’t been a smooth start to life at the western end of the A27 for Orr, but this innings was exactly what had been promised when he signed.
Left-arm wrist spinner Callum Parkinson was tossed the ball in the 18th over and with his third delivery ripped one back with a googly to pin back Fletcha Middleton’s (18) middle stump.
The breaking of a 48-run opening stand did not spark a rush of wickets. Instead, Orr reached his maiden Hampshire half-century in 94 balls.
He added another 86 with Nick Gubbins, who never found fluency in his 31 before he scooped Parkinson straight up to Ollie Robinson.
When Orr brought up his hundred – in 168 balls – he delivered a triumphant fist pump towards a cheering home balcony.
He departed with a tame plink to extra cover to give Peter Siddle his first wicket for his new county, before James Vince edged behind for a disjointed 41 to give Parkinson his third.
Prest, however, upped the run-rate considerably with Liam Dawson (33 not out), reaching his fifty in 62 balls during an 81-run unbroken partnership.