AFTER conceding 21 runs from his first three legitimate deliveries, David Balcombe bounced back with his first five-wicket haul of the season.
Having lost the toss in bitterly cold temperatures, Hampshire got off to an inauspicious start with the new ball against a Lancashire side that lost Simon Katich to a head injury in the warm-up.
Balcombe conceded a flurry of new balls and three boundaries as he slipped at the crease following Tomlinson’s opening over. But he finished with 5-92 as Lancashire were reduced to 182-8 – before closing the opening day of the LV County Championship match on 252-9. Balcombe said: “Until that nightmare first over I’ve prided myself on going at two an over this season!
“I kept slipping and and every time I slipped they hit me for four!
“But everything’s sent to test you I suppose. It was damper than I thought under the surface and after a bit of time away I was probably a bit too eager to get back into it and set the tone.
“Maybe I put a bit too much pressure on myself to do well rather than just relaxing, going with it and trusting in my ability.
“But it’s how you come back I suppose and after putting some sawdust down it was fine.”
Balcombe had taken only six wickets all season before yesterday.
“I’ve bowled well all year without much luck, then I don’t bowl my best and get luck - that’s cricket,” he said.
All nine wickets fell to catches behind the stumps on an Ageas Bowl wicket with less pace and carry than Balcombe has been used to since becoming a Hampshire regular at the beginning of last season.
Thankfully, Katich was discharged from Southampton General after being struck on the temple during net practice.
His replacement, Andrea Agathangelou, held the visitors’ innings with an unbeaten 93. His was a chanceless knock and he enjoyed useful lower order partnerships with Glen Chapple and now Simon Kerrigan.
Liam Dawson took three smart catches at second slip, two off the bowling of Balcombe either side of an excellent take low to his right to reward James Tomlinson with the scalp of Ashwell Prince.
Michael Bates, playing his first Championship game of the season following Adam Wheater’s side injury the previous night, was not at his best.
But he snaffled Proctor’s edge against James Vince’s improved medium pace and held on to another when some extra bounce from Balcombe accounted for Steven Croft.
A stunning one-handed catch from Danny Briggs, immediately after being switched to gully, saw off Gareth Cross.
Balcombe celebrated his fifth wicket when Kyle Hogg cut straight to Michael Carberry at backward point.
He added: “We’d have probably taken that at the start of the day but from the position we got ourselves into it’s 30 runs too many - it would have been nice to bowl then out for under 200.”
