County suffer third FPT setback

Date: Sunday 03 May 2009

FPT Game Three: Hampshire Hawks 300-5 (Benham 108*) beat Leicestershire Foxes 254 (Nixon 50) by 46 runs.

Leicestershire Foxes’ chances of FPT qualification took a further setback as Hampshire Hawks inflicted a third competition defeat on the team at the Rose Bowl.

The home side completed the double over the Foxes by 46 runs in Southampton, as County could not chase down an imposing target of 301.

Hants were in some bother at 123-5 in their knock after winning the toss and electing to bat, but an unbroken stand of 177 between Chris Benham and captain Nic Pothas turned the game in their favour.

In the Hawks’ innings, Carl Crowe excelled with a super spell of 2-36 from ten miserly overs.

AJ Harris began things well by having Michael Lumb caught by skipper Paul Nixon attempting to launch a drive early on, but a stand of 66 between Jimmy Adams and Sean Ervine steadied the ship for the hosts.

Crowe then helped County gain the upper hand during a highly-economical spell just as the Hawks were looking to accelerate after a solid start.

He bowled the left-handed Adams for his 46-ball 45, and, after Sam Cliff had Michael Carberry caught by Matthew Boyce, the off-spinner struck another important blow by taking a return catch to get rid of the dangerous Liam Dawson.

When Ervine was run out for 43 from 46 balls shortly afterwards, Hants had gone from 114-2 to 123-5 and the Foxes were scenting a low target to bowl at.

Unfortunately for the team, Benham – who also made a critical 79 in last weekend’s win – performed well again.

He took the initiative in a brilliant stand with his captain, making his unbeaten 108 at better than a run-a-ball and striking eight fours and a six along the way.

Pothas was a useful ally, making 57 not out from 64 balls. The keeper only found the boundary on three occasions but ran well and supported Benham well.

The Foxes needed a decent start to their reply, and got it, as HD Ackerman and Boyce shared 46.

However, both fell without the total moving, as Ackerman was caught by Lumb on the deep mid-wicket boundary off Billy Taylor, while Boyce nicked Dominic Cork through to stand-in keeper Chris Burrows.

James Taylor, who had been promoted to number three, then was part of a useful stand with Boeta Dippenaar.

The duo shared 72 before Dippenaar departed, caught by Taylor off Dawson for 34.

Josh Cobb made a run-a-ball 13, but when he and Taylor fell in quick succession the innings lost momentum.

Cobb was caught by England under-19 colleague Hamza Riazuddin off Ervine, while sub-keeper Burrows held a second catch off David Balcombe to end Taylor’s stay for 41.

That left a stiff task for Nixon and the rest of the batsmen, but they went down fighting.

The captain made a spirited 50 from 47 balls with five fours, before becoming Ervine’s second wicket of the afternoon.

Before that, Wayne White was dismissed for 27 by Taylor, who claimed a third victim after Nixon departed when he bowled Crowe for 20.

That left County with far much to do, and the hosts wrapped up the win when Ervine had Cliff caught by Dawson and Cork had Iain O'Brien caught by Benham.

Points: Hants 2, Leics 0.