Dangerous Tommo

After a pretty poor 2009 season, everyone's second favourite Winchesterite (sorry, but Jimmy Adams comes top of that particular list) is getting back to the sort of form that saw him demolish Somerset and finish top of the country's wicket takers in 2008. 5 wickets yesterday signalled the return of the man with the only left arm fast bowling in the Hampshire squad, and he'll be looking to build on this good start to the season, being given the job of leading the attack with the injury to Kabir.

Little is known of Tomlinson. Some say he was raised by bears, but I don't remember seeing any colonies of bears in Winchester high street, so I'm less inclined to believe that particular story. Either way he's back and his back is not playing up, so a good season with the ball in both forms of the game will maintain his 'dangerous' reputation.

Please, won't somebody think of the CC?!

The County Championship as we know it must be preserved! As I'm sure is common knowledge, the ECB, in their infinite wisdom, intend to tinker with the format of the County Championship. That jewell in the British Crown, only matched in Britishness by fish and chips, the Met Office and fly-tipping. I implore you to add your name to this petition, in an effort to make the ECB realise the mistake they could be making:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/leavethecountychampionshipalone/

Super Slug

Well he did it. The guy who had scored just 4 centuries for us since joining in 2005 (three of those centuries were last season) has taken Hampshire from a typically perilous position to one where we might actually...win... *yikes!* 512 all out reads even better considering the usual collapse yesterday to something like 129-5. I thought all was lost when Pothas and Cork departed late last night with the score still on 287, and Slug was on 75* with Herath coming in at number 9. Having done a two hour Archaeology exam this morning, I located a computer to try and find out how close Somerset were to our first innings score but low, Slug was still there and Tomlinson was at the other end in at number 10.

"382-8! Please get us to 400, that would be an achievement!"

Little did I know. The pair racked up a 130 run partnership for the ninth wicket, Tommo eventually falling for 42, a fine innings that put most of the top order to shame. Griffiths then hung around, as Slug battered all and sundry, taking the innings to 512, and his own score to a mighty 237*, before Griffiths fell to Compton. Griff made amends for this howler by trapping Tresco lbw for 41, whilst Herath took down the Malaysian, Suppiah, to end Somerset's innings for the day on 104-2, still 408 runs behind.

Of course Somerset will knock up a huge score too, then we'll collpase to hand victory to them on the last day, but please give me this for today, please?

11/12

Ok time for a bit of 'What Not' in that, overlooking Hampshire's continued failings and Middlesex's confirmation of Hampshire's crapness, I finally saw a victory yesterday. No not on a cricket pitch but on a rectangle field in the wind and occasionally driving rain (hence why I couldn't join in your chat, Wes, sorry!). Truly the season of two halves, as the mighty Bath ran in 5 tries against woeful Leeds to secure a spot on the play-offs next week. It has been a remarkable reversal of fortunes. From September until Christmas day, Bath had played 10 Premiership games. They had won 1, drawn 2 and lost 7, and sat second from bottom and only 2 points away from relegation. What followed was thus: A win against Gloucester (our first home win of the season), a win away to Leeds (who were bottom of the table), a bonus point win at London Irish, a bonus point win at home to Worcester, a win at Saracens, a win at Newcastle, a win at home to Harlequins, the one defeat away to Leicester, a bonus point win at home to Sale, a win at home to Northampton, a bonus point win away to Wasps and a bonus point win yesterday. Making the post-Christmas record 12 matches played, 11 games won, and 49 points accrued.

So from 11th (second-bottom), Bath finished the season in 4th, and a trip to Leicester awaits in the semi-finals (next saturday). It was quite a miss-match yesterday. No points were scored in the first 20 minutes but from there Bath took control. A series of scrums close to the line broke down Leeds, with Butch James and Barkley spinning it out wide for Abendanon to score in the corner. This was soon followed by another try, and Watson broke from another scrum, passed to Claassens, who dummied and ran in under the posts. A further penalty made in 17-0 at half time. A couple of penalties were exchanged before Matt Banahan stormed down the wing shrugging off two would-be tacklers and diving in in the corner. Then followed the try of the match, as Claassens and Banahan moved the ball from right to left on half-way, Barkley cut back, offloading to Abendanon who brought it from left to right, Dixon cut through the defence, then quick handling from James and Barkley saw Abendanon with the ball on the right touchline about 20 metres out. Leeds openside, Oakley, appeared to have Abendanon covered, but managed to let him turn and slip past with literally centimetres between him and the touchline. Abendanon then dived in to score the 4th try.

Another well played move down the right sent try machine Maddock in for the 5th try and his 46th and final try for the club. Final score 39-3.

Oh deary me

I think I've passed the point of 'should I laugh or cry?'. Now I just chuckle with a sense of despair. Once again the match went from dodgy for Hampshire to strong position to win, to dead on draw, to defeat. Same result, different team this time as Notts emulated Durham and Warwickshire in knocking off the meagre total set by our frankly disasterous batting.

To compound this, there was the injury count. Leading wicket taker Kabir went off clutching his knee. Captain and 'keeper Pothas fell awkwardly and has buggered his hand. Apparently Corky took over the gloves, then when he was needed to try and get a break through, club fitness coach and ex-Portsmouth goalie Brunchy came on and kept wicket! It doesn't end there though. Brunchy was replaced by Bates, with Riazuddin and Howell putting in appearences as various players fell down. So where does this leave Hampshire for the Somerset game? Pff, you expect me to know?! I'll take a guess at the team though. In my view we now have nothing to lose. Therefore I'll be brave and go with:

Adams (Captain extrordinaire)
Carberry
Vince
Dawson
Howell
Ervine
Bates (wk)
Cork
Tomlinson
Herath
Griffiths

To be honest they can't play much worse than the current lot. McKenzie has been very poor, Benham repeatedly messes up his chances, and the injuries have to be addressed. I'm expecting a few sly comments from Wes, especially if the Middle pull off that chase against Sussex tomorrow... :(

Grrrrr

Well what would you know? Hampshire collapsed AGAIN to hand victory to Notts yesterday in a 40 over (reduced to 26) match after Carbs and Adams had set up an excellent platform from which to chase down the gettable target. Good news on the bowling front though, as Corky made a great return with 3-30 from 5 overs, he'll surely play tomorrow in the first championship match at home to Notts. If we lose this one then all I can hope for from the Championship is survival, which on current form looks like wishful thinking...