‘Deadly’ Derek’s seven-wicket heroics - and the time ex-Portsmouth spinner went one better

But in the absence of any cricket to report on, The News has taken a trip down memory lane to recall some memorable first class games between the two counties.

August 1876 - Faversham

Way back in time, Arthur Ridley turned in the best all-round performance against Kent in Hampshire’s Championship history.

First, he came in at No 5 and smacked 104 out of a 277 all out total. Then he claimed 5-52 and 5-61 as Kent were bowled out for 129 and 142.

That was the first of only five occasions in Championship history when a Hampshire player has taken 10 or more wickets and scored a century in the same game. The last occasion was Jim Bailey against Leicestershire in 1948.

And Kent could not say they did not know what to expect - the previous month Ridley had taken 6-58 and 6-36 in another Hampshire win in Southampton!

May 1950 - Southampton

One of only four tied Championship matches in Hampshire’s history.

After Kent had been bowled out for 162 and 170, Hampshire - following their match-highest 180 in the first innings - were set 153 for victory. But they couldn’t quite manage it.

Hampshire’s fourth and final Championship tie came at Burnaby Road in Portsmouth - against Middlesex in 1967.

July 1967 - Maidstone

Kent legend Derek Underwood lived up to his nickname of ‘Deadly’ as Hampshire collapsed to a eye-popping defeat.

After the hosts had been bowled out for 296, Underwood bagged 12 wickets as the visitors were skittled twice on day two.

First, the England Test spinner claimed 7-35 as Hampshire were dismissed for just 95 and forced to follow on.

He then picked up 5-15 as Roy Marshall’s team were rolled over for just 31 - Alan Dixon weighing in with 4-10.

Incredibly, the last six wickets tumbled without a run being scored as Hampshire notched up what remains their joint-sixth lowest ever total.

Only once in post-war cricket have they been dismissed for a lower total - Derbyshire routing them for 23 at Burton in 1958.

It would not be the last time Underwood would run through a Hampshire order …

July 1968 - Gillingham

… for example, the very near year ‘Deadly’ was at it again as Hampshire collapsed in their second innings to lose by 120 runs.

After the hosts had been shot out for 91 in their second innings, Underwood returned figures of 12-8-17-7 as Hampshire were skittled for 58.

May 1976 - Southampton

Barry Richards struck two centuries in the same Championship game - only the third time a Hampshire batsman had achieved the feat since 1927.

The South African opener compiled 159 (out of 307) and 108 (out of 300) in a drawn encounter at The County Ground.

August 1978 - Bournemouth

Another legendary opener, Gordon Greenidge, cracked two centuries in the same game as Hampshire raced to a seven-wicket success.

The West Indian followed up his first innings 136 (out of a team total of only 236) with 120 as Hampshire won on 313-3 - Trevor Jesty hitting an unbeaten 106.

May 1984 - Canterbury

And still Derek Underwood was posing huge problems for Hampshire batsmen!

Now 38, ‘Deadly’ bagged 7-21 as the visitors were routed for just 56.

In a game dogged by bad weather, captains Chris Tavare and Nick Pocock agreed to forfeit an innings each.

After Kent had made 179-4 declared, Pocock top scored for Hampshire with 17 as Underwood bagged his fourth seven-for against the county - he had previously taken 7-79 two years earlier in another Kent win at Bournemouth.

August 1987 - Bournemouth

Paul-Jan Bakker produced remarkable figures in only his second Championship game for Hampshire.

After making a solitary appearance in 1986, the Dutchman had to wait until the following August for his second.

It was worth waiting for, as he claimed 7-37 as Kent were dismissed for 176 to lose by 75 runs.

Earlier, Kent led by 56 runs on first innings before Mark Nicholas struck 133 as Hampshire reached 307-4 second time around.

May 1989 - Southampton

Raj Maru claimed career best bowling figures as Hampshire won by 133 runs.

The slow left-armer played 229 first class games in a career spanning 1980-1998, but only once did he bag 10 wickets in a match.

That was in this game - following up a 4-64 first innings haul with a career best 8-41 in the second as Kent, set 269 for victory, slipped from 91-3 to 136 all out.

Maru’s eight-for are Hampshire’s best ever Championship bowling figures against Kent.

Once his professional days were over, Maru played for Portsmouth in the Southern Premier League. In 2001 he was the division’s top wicket-taker with 34 in 15 games as Portsmouth won the Division 2 title.

July 2000 - Portsmouth

Current Hampshire director of cricket Giles White carried his bat through the county’s second innings of their six-wicket loss in the last Championship game played at Burnaby Road.

White ended unbeaten on 80 as Hampshire were dismissed for 136, after having held a first innings lead of 68. The second highest score was Dimi Mascarenhas’ 17.

May 2005 - Canterbury

Shane Warne finally scored his maiden first class century - over 14 years after making his debut.

Batting at No 9, the Hampshire skipper cracked an unbeaten 107 in a first innings total of 328.

After Kent had replied with 305, Simon Katich (128) and Kevin Pietersen (125) helped Hampshire declare on 461-9.

Set an unlikely 490 for victory, Kent finished on 447-9 in 141 overs - after being 370-8. At the time it was the highest fourth innings total against Hampshire ever (subsequently passed by Surrey’s 467 at The Oval in 2007).

The match aggregate of 1,541 runs is the fourth highest in Hampshire’s Championship history.

August 2014 - Canterbury

Chris Wood returned career best bowling figures as Hampshire took another step towards the Division 2 Championship title.

After opening up with 390 - Sean Ervine top scoring with 75 and Wood hitting 61 - the visitors wrestled the initiative with the Basingstoke-born seamer taking 5-39 as Kent were dismissed for 191.

Hampshire eventually won by 196 runs with ex-Kent seamer Matt Coles taking 3-68 in the second innings.

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John Crawley's 272 on debut at Canterbury in 2002 is not featured here as the details were included in an article in Monday’s edition of The News.