SURREY V HAMPSHIRE - Specsavers County
Championship - 7 September 2016
Surrey 329. Hampshire 213-3.It is too early
to tell whether this match will yield the victory Hampshire badly
need as they battle to retain their first division status in the
Specsavers County Championship but it has already produced a
landmark moment for one of the county's players.
Tom Alsop, a 20-year-old left-hander, scored his
maiden first-class century as Hampshire closed on 213-3, 116 behind
Surrey's first innings 329 with two of the four days played. Alsop
looked thrilled and relieved after reaching his ton when a square
cut squirmed away from backward point's grasp for two, and well he
might. As the hundred loomed and the shadows lengthened at the Kia
Oval he had become increasingly nervous and might thrice have been
dismissed.
It was a curious innings from the England under-19
batsman. He sped serenely to 55 off 60 balls but was then becalmed
for 40 deliveries as Surrey gave him less width. He began scoring
again but was dropped in the slips off Stuart Meaker by Steven Davis
on 72; dropped again at cover by Sam Curran on 92 - a much harder
chance following a miscued drive at Gareth Batty; then, on the same
score, almost run out by a piece of smart fielding by Dominic
Sibley.
Having finally attained three figures, from 169
balls with 17 fours, he relaxed and was still there, on 117 at the
close. Alsop was given good support by Will Smith, who battled
through a demanding opening spell from Tom Curran that claimed Jimmy
Adams, but was then dismissed for 49, and Sean Ervine (30 not out).
While Surrey's bowlers had to toil in the
afternoon sun Hampshire's had earlier had overcast conditions to
work with. They took the final four Surrey wickets for 63 runs but
with Ben Foakes, 47 overnight, quickly bowled by Ryan McClaren after
adding just a single they will feel their efforts were only par for
the conditions. Dropping Tom Curran (17) twice in the slips did not
help (Smith and Adams the culprits), but the main obstacle was Batty
who scored a breezy 41 not out before running out of partners. Brad
Wheal finished with 4-100.
This is Hampshire's penultimate championship match
and they began it still 14 points adrift of safety, a position
currently held by Durham who are up against it at Headingley but
have a game in hand. Victory is thus imperative, but whatever
happens in the long-term Alsop's first century, nearly two years
after his first-class debut, could prove of great benefit to him and
the county.
Hampshire batsman Tom Alsop, who scored his maiden
first-class century at the Kia Oval against Surrey, said: "It is
what dreams are made of really. I got my first one-day hundred
earlier this season but I wanted to get a Championship one. There
are only a few games left and I began to think I wasn't going to get
one this season. It has been hard getting the first one, not so much
a question of technique or anything like that - I have got few 50s
so I thought 'I can play'- but everyone says the first one is the
hardest and I guess it is."
Of his three 'lives' Alsop., who was unbeaten on
117 at the close, said: "Thankfully today was my day, The second
chance, of Gareth Batty, I was ready to walk off, but maybe the sun
was in his eyes or something..."
Alsop dedicated his century to team-mate Michael
Carberry, who was diagnosed earlier this summer with a cancerous
tumour. "He has helped me a lot," said Alsop, "we're good friends
off the field as well, to see what has gone through is tough. I'd
like to say thanks to him, and tell him everyone is with him."
TEA REPORT
Tom Alsop underlined his promise with a
smoothly-compiled 58-ball half-century as Hampshire made a confident
start in pursuit of a first innings lead on the second day at the
Kia Oval. The 20-year-old left-hander reached tea in the Specsavers
County Championship division one match 55 not out. He was given
solid support by opener Will Smith (40 not out) who survived a
testing opening spell from Tom Curran that accounted for Jimmy
Adams.
Having gone to lunch with a serene boundary Adams
went scoreless for 18 balls after the break before chasing a widish
delivery to be caught behind. However, Smith and Alsop then added 83
as Hampshire reached tea 106-1, 223 behind.
Earlier skipper Gareth Batty scored a brisk 41 to
steer Surrey, who had resumed at 260-6, to 329 all out. Coming in
when Ben Foakes was dismissed having added just one to his overnight
47 Batty remained unbeaten while Brad Wheal finished with 4-100.
LUNCH REPORT
Hampshire were frustrated in their quest to
quickly wrap up Surrey's first innings on the second morning of
their Specsavers County Championship first division match at the Kia
Oval. Despite dismissing Ben Foakes (48) with only six runs added to
the overnight 260-6 the visitors were unable to winkle out the tail
until the lunchtime soup was being warmed.
Under overcast skies Surrey captain Gareth Batty
provided the stiffest resistance, making an unbeaten run-a-ball 41
to lift his team to 329 all out. Brad Wheal was the pick of the
Hampshire bowlers, taking 4-100 but both he and Ryan McClaren were
frustrated at having Tom Curran dropped in the slips. Jimmy Adams
missed the all-rounder at second slip on eight, Will Smith at third
on 14. Finally he was taken down the legside for 17 by wicketkeeper
Lewis McManus.
With the sun emerging Smith and Adams comfortably
negotiated what could have been a testing four overs before lunch
reaching 12-0.
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