Comment | Read Comments (4)

Michael Carberry

HAMPSHIRE (331-5) HAVE WON BY FIVE WICKETS, WITH THREE BALLS TO SPARE

Michael Carberry batted with severe cramp for nearly two hours in leading Hampshire back into Championship contention.

The left-hander struck a career-best 192 not out as Hampshire beat Warwickshire by five wickets on a thrilling last day, reaching the 331 target with three balls to spare.

After 1.5 overs of declaration bowling yesterday morning - during which Carberry holed out to mid-on - Warwickshire forfeited their second innings to set Hampshire 331 to win from 92 overs.

It was generous on their part.

Warwickshire director of cricket Mark Greatbatch was unhappy, claiming that Hampshire captain Shane Warne agreed to chase 354 in 96 overs on Tuesday evening, before changing his mind yesterday morning.

"The Hampshire captain showed his true colours," complained Greatbatch.

Disappointingly, a prior engagement in London meant Warne was unavailable to fulfil his press duties after another memorable day as Hampshire captain, but the bottom line was that Darren Maddy, his Warwickshire counterpart, agreed to defend 330.

Thanks to Carberry, Warwickshire did not succeed and Hampshire got the win that means they are just two points off second-placed Lancashire despite lying sixth in an increasingly congested Championship table.

Carberry's previous career best was an unbeaten 153 for Surrey against Cambridge UCCE five years ago, but the opponents, the context of Hampshire's season and his battle with cramp on a last-day wicket with some variable bounce made this a far greater effort.

The 26-year-old began doggedly against a new ball that swung prodigiously, but it was after the onset of cramp just before tea that he began to open his shoulders.

His 192 came from 281 balls, included 24 fours and a six and he needed only 32 balls for his third fifty.

Carberry lost Michael Brown, bowled by an inswinging yorker, and John Crawley, who was well caught at short mid-wicket, for ten runs apiece in the morning session.

When Michael Lumb (15) was eventually out in mid-afternoon - he handed slow left armer Paul Harris his first Championship wicket of the season by paddling an easy catch to short leg - it looked as though Hampshire would settle for the draw.

But Chris Benham helped Carberry to tea at 163-3, when 34 overs remained. The insurance of wickets in hand enabled both Carberry and Benham (40 from 74 balls) to bat with more adventure at the beginning of the final session. They increased the tempo by taking 38 runs off the first four overs after tea to swing the match firmly in Hampshire's favour.

Carberry, who was on 91 at tea, responded to cramp by pulling James Anyon for four to bring up his 100 from 183 balls. He then hit three more boundaries in an over against Harris but Hampshire's momentum was checked by two run outs in four overs.

First Benham, having survived an lbw appeal, was dimissed by a direct hit from Jim Troughton at point as he attempted a quick leg bye.

That ended a vital fourth-wicket stand of 117 in 25 overs.

Then Nic Pothas (12), who was only batting after an X-ray earlier in the day revealed he had not suffered a fractured eye socket on Sunday, ran himself out after attempting a single to cover against Harris.

Pothas's arrival at the crease had coincided with Lumb's return as Carberry's runner and that only added to the drama.

When Pothas departed Hampshire still needed 86 off 23 overs, and Carberry had the perfect partner at that stage in Dimitri Mascarenhas, who used all his experience in timing his unbeaten 38 (68 balls) to perfection.

Former Hampshire favourite Heath Streak bowled magnificently to increase the required run rate.

With six overs left, Hampshire still needed 44 but Carberry eased the tension by pulling the last ball of the 89th over, a good-length delivery from Anyon, over mid-wicket for his only six.

Twenty runs were needed off the last 18 balls and 14 off the last 12 but Hampshire won with three balls remaining when Tim Groenewald sent down a waist-high delivery against Carberry that was immediately signalled no-ball by umpire Rob Bailey.

That completed the ninth-highest successful fourth-innings run chase in Hampshire's history.

11:15am Wednesday 11th July 2007

Print

Email this

Comment

Add your comment

Name:
Email: *
Location:
**
	e.g. 123-123
Comment: Please note: All HTML tags will be ignored. Format Text:
By posting a comment, I confirm that I have read and agree to the terms of use. Comments are not moderated but we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention and we may delete inappropriate postings. Please treat other people with respect. You must not post anything that is abusive, indecent, unlawful or defamatory. Remember, you are personally liable for what you post on this site. If you wish to complain about a comment, contact us here.
* Your email address will not be displayed ** To avoid register now or login