Two Wickets Each for Wheal & Crane on Second Day

The Hampshire bowlers picked up six wickets and got some valuable overs under their belt during a rain-affected second and final day of the friendly against Kent at the The Ageas Bowl.

Michael Carberry, who hit an impressive unbeaten ton on day one, retired not out overnight leaving Lewis McManus (40) and Ryan McLaren (6) at the crease at the start of the day, on 211-3. 

There was clear intent from the outset from the middle order to push the total on with Hants likely to declare before lunch.

But it was the Kent spinners who achieved some early success as McManus and McLaren fell in quick succession to leave Hampshire 237-5.

When left-arm spinner Imran Qayyum picked up his third wicket of the match to dismiss the fluent Chris Wood (21), Hampshire finished their innings on 254-6 with Mason Crane unbeaten on 16.

Hampshire’s experienced left-arm seamer James Tomlinson (1-25) made an immediate impression on the match at the start of Kent’s innings, trapping key player Daniel Bell-Drummond (0) lbw first ball.

Sean Dickson (38) and Adam Ball (36) saw Kent through to lunch, but the majority the afternoon session was lost to rain with Brad Wheal (2-17) picking up a wicket before the heavens opened.

The players returned to the field in the evening session and it was Mason Crane (2-27) who enjoyed a useful spell with the ball, picking up the wickets of captain Sam Northeast (32) and Mitchell Claydon (2) as Kent finished the day on 141-6.

Hampshire’s next pre-season friendly is against Sussex at Hove, starting on Friday.