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CC2: Hants Bowlers Shine Once More

Thursday, April 29 2004

Southampton: Hampshire v Leicestershire
Mascarenhas leads the way

Journalists' Early Season predictions of Hampshire playing a strong hand in the Second Division Title Race once again came true on another bowler-friendly Rose Bowl track against Leicestershire.

The visitors struggled along at barely two an over all day, as all five of the Hampshire bowlers proved difficult to get away, Dmitri Mascarenhas going at less than one run per over in the morning session, as Darren Robinson and Brad Hodge's laboured innings both burned slowly and quietly before being extinguished.

Tortured progress turned to collapse after dinner, as Mascarenhas and Warne combined to reduce Leicester from 56-2 to 70-7, with opener John Maunders (34) the only man to offer any real resistance in his two and a half hour effort.

Veteran skipper Phil DeFreitas and South African import Claude Henderson saved a degree of face for the Foxes as they helped to add 69 for the last three wickets, Mascarenhas ending with 3-22 and Warne 2-17.

Hampshire's reply, whilst understandably watchful, came at a solid three runs an over, with Will Kendall and Michael Brown both unbeaten in the thirties at close as the deficit was cut to just 46 runs. Defreitas was the only bowler to succeed, having Derek Kenway caught behind for 23.

Leicestershire 139
JK Maunders 34, AD Mascarenhas 3-22
Hampshire 93-1
WS Kendall 32*, PAJ DeFreitas 1-36

Chelmsford: Essex v Somerset
Bowler spearheads visitors' resistance

Forty overs were possible at Chelmsford once the run-ups had dried out before Somerset skipper Michael Burns surprised everyone by batting first in overcast conditions.

Peter Bowler and John Francis responded with a dogged opening stand, split only when Francis (18) flicked John Stephenson to Mark Pettini at square leg - before Matt Wood joined Bowler in his stonewalling exercise.

Danish Kaneria's Essex debut met with good economy, but no breakthroughs, in a similar way to his team mates before stumps were called with the visitors on 87-1, with Bowler one run short of his 142nd First Class score of fifty-plus and Wood on 19*.

Somerset 87-1
PD Bowler 49*, JP Stephenson 1-11

Nottingham: Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire
No play possible due to rain

Derby: Derbyshire v Durham
No play possible due to rain

Posted by Neil