Hampshire avoid relegation despite Surrey defeat

By Connor Steel

HAMPSHIRE CRICKET narrowly avoided a ‘sensational’ relegation from County Championship Division One despite a poor loss to Surrey at the Utilita Bowl on Saturday morning (September 27); although they faced a long nervous wait to confirm safety as rivals Durham suffered a dismal batting collapse against Yorkshire to go down via a sole point overall.

It was already a nervous final day for Hampshire as they were 148-9 and needed thirty-three runs to win, but they were denied as Indian bowler Rahul Chahar took the last wicket to confirm a twenty-run defeat for the hosts. This meant that Durham only needed a draw at Headingley having just begun batting this second innings as Surrey confirmed their win.

Although Durham made a steady start as they reached 57-2 in the thirty-third over a sensational collapse saw them fall to 85 all out following eight quick wickets from approximately seventy-balls; which left them losing by an innings and 43 runs. The defeat meant that Durham finished their campaign with 144 points with Hampshire ending in seventh on 145.

Overall, Hampshire only won two games from fourteen this campaign versus Yorkshire during early April and also up in Warwickshire in mid-May but have drawn nine games and lost the other three during a tough campaign. Their tally was helped by twelve batting points and added thirty-seven for bowling efforts; this eventual top two both getting 200 points.

Surviving relegation is arguably their only positive from a difficult September for this county which has seen them really struggle on and off the pitch. They were deducted eight points in the County Championship for a “breach” of the ECB’s pitch regulations whilst they have lost in two men’s white ball finals and women’s final for T20 / fifty overs in two weeks.

Popular Head Coach Adi Birrell has further announced that he would be leaving the club after seven years at this helm; helping the county to become ‘title challengers’ multiple occasions in the County Championship. The South African was gifted a bull for his farm back in his homeland by the playing staff before play on the last morning of action on Saturday.

PICTURED BY ALAMY (3C2TXXX): Tilak Varma prepares to strike his shot away from crease versus Nottinghamshire.