Liam Dawson demolishes Northamptonshire to reignite Hampshire’s title hopes
Hampshire 367 (Vince 95, Dawson 63, White 4-80) beat Northamptonshire 56 (Barker 4-13) and 176 (Zaib 57*, Whiteman 45, Dawson 6-61) by an innings and 135 runs
Northamptonshire succumbed to their third straight innings LV= Insurance County Championship defeat to bogey aspect Hampshire led by Liam Dawson‘s five-wicket haul.
Dawson claimed 6 for 61 for his sixth first-class five-for and his greatest figures on the Ageas Bowl to reignite Hampshire’s title hopes after two winless matches with victory by an innings and 135 runs coming inside three days.
Northamptonshire, who’ve one win and a solitary batting bonus level up to now this season, solely claimed three factors from the match as they sit all-time low of Division One.
Hampshire have dominated Northamptonshire of their three Championship clashes – beginning on the Ageas Bowl final September and persevering with in dwelling and away drubbings this time period.
Their three innings have resulted in 1,249 runs – in response, Northamptonshire have solely cobbled collectively 840 in six innings. This thrashing was long-established on the primary two days.
Hampshire grafted onerous to attain 367 runs in simply over a day, due to James Vince‘s 95, Dawson’s 63, and forties for Fletcha Middleton and Ben Brown.
Northamptonshire had been bowled out for a brand new Ageas Bowl low of 56 in 30.2 overs and had been already two down of their second innings by the shut.
Their head coach John Sadler referred to as for “fight, graft and resilience” and promoted the concept of traditional purple ball batting going ahead. Sam Whiteman and Rob Keogh took that to coronary heart. The duo batted out 39 of the primary 42 balls of the day as dots and took few dangers, whereas beginning to nibble away on the deficit.
Whiteman would face 93 balls and Keogh 113, however after an hour of occupation below gorgeous blue skies, a collapse wasn’t distant.
Dawson’s second over of the day was lengthy sufficient to see Australian Whiteman try a drive out of the tough, solely to get bowled by means of the gate.
Ricardo Vasconcelos additionally took the attacking route out however missed his slog sweep by a distance to depart his stumps uncovered.
Keogh had been dropped earlier within the morning by Dawson earlier than the left-arm spinner had him leg earlier than with an arm ball and Northamptonshire had been now 150 for five, having been 89 for two little greater than 10 overs earlier.
Mohammad Abbas had James Sales lbw with the primary ball after lunch to start a post-interval collapse of 33 for five.
Dawson returned to pin Tom Taylor in entrance for a pair – becoming a member of Hassan Azad within the scoreless nook – earlier than Jordan Buckingham went again to a different one which went on with the arm.
Saif Zaib – who had been the one Northamptonshire batter to achieve double figures within the first innings – once more impressed with a 78-ball fifty. He confirmed utility, combined with some enticing shot-making to finish up unbeaten on 57.
But Dawson kissed the highest of Jack White’s off stump with a ragging supply and Mason Crane – on his first look of the season – acquired Alex Russell to edge to first slip to finish Northamptonshire’s depressing journey to the south coast at 2:40pm. The final eight wickets had been misplaced for simply 87 runs.