Memorable opening games in Hampshire Cricket’s post-war history

Sadly, the Covid-19 pandemic has put paid to that - indeed, at the moment Hampshire’s first six Championship games have been called off.

For anyone missing their cricketing fix, here The News takes a look back at some memorable opening games to Hampshire Championship seasons. Some featured fine individual displays, other great team results - and two featured stunning performances from former England fast bowler Andy Caddick against Hampshire!

1959 - Glamorgan (Portsmouth)

Dennis Baldry made a stunning debut as Hampshire began the season with an innings and nine-run victory at the United Services ground.

The former Middlesex player came in at No 5 and scored his maiden Championship century in his first Hampshire innings - 151 - as his new side totalled 350-6 declared.

Glamorgan were then dismissed for 170 and 171.

In 139 first class games, and 242 innings, Baldry was to make only three centuries - and his 151 would remain the highest score of his five-season Hampshire career.

Baldry also remains one of just seven Hampshire players to score a century on his first class debut for the county.

1973 - Leicestershire (Grace Road)

Gordon Greenidge struck two half-centuries for the visitors but Leicestershire failed to get the win they were at one stage on course for.

The fact they did so was in no small part down to top order bat Chris Balderstone, who twice scored his best ever Championship total.

Replying to Hampshire’s 233 all out off 105.2 overs - cricket was much slower back then! - Balderstone struck 84 out of his side’s 199 all out (Trevor Jesty 5-30) reply.

Greenidge followed up his 53 with 76 as Hampshire declared their second innings on 226-6, leaving the hosts 261 for victory.

Baldestone’s 90 took Leicestershire to 204-3, but he became one of Bob Herman’s five victims (5-49) as the hosts ended on 226-7.

Hampshire went on to win the Championship for only the second - and last - time, winning 10 of their 20 games and drawing all the others.

1976 - Somerset (Taunton)

Bob Stephenson played 272 first class games for Derbyshire and Hampshire between 1967 and 1980. In those matches, he made 357 visits to the crease - and scored his only century at Taunton.

Hampshire, trailing by 41 on first innings, were 116-6 in their second when Stephenson came in at No 8. He proceeded to score exactly 100 not out as the visitors declared on 289-9 in what proved a drawn encounter.

1979 - Glamorgan (Southampton)

The legendary Malcolm Marshall made a winning start to his Hampshire career.

The West Indian fast bowler - then just 21 - celebrated his Championship debut with 3-45 and 4-23 as Glamorgan were routed for 138 (Keith Stevenson 5-30) and 100 to lose by 116 runs.

Gordon Greenidge’s 81 - the highest score of the game - had underpinned Hampshire’s opening 237 all out total, with skipper Bob Stephenson declaring their second innings on 117-6.

1982 - Leicestershire (Southampton)

Nigel Cowley scored 104 in the second innings of the drawn encounter - one of only two hundreds he would compile in 375 first class innings across 271 matches in a 17-year professional career.

Trevor Jesty bagged 6-72 in the visitors’ first innings total of 281 - of which Zimbabwean-born Brian Davison struck an imperious 172. The next highest score was Roger Tolchard’s 24.

1986 - Nottinghamshire (Trent Bridge)

Gordon Greenidge lashed a second innings century as Hampshire romped to a nine-wicket victory.

Set 206 for victory, Greenidge (118) and opening partner Paul Terry (74) put on 170 as Hampshire ended up winning on 209-1 in 40.1 overs.

Compare that to their first innings, when they had reached 209-8 off 100 overs en route to 241 all out in reply to Notts’ 265 all out.

It was to be the first of Greenidge’s eight Championship centuries in 1986, and no Hampshire player has scored more in a post-war season. Trevor Jesty had also compiled eight tons four years earlier.

1993 - Somerset (Southampton)

Andy Caddick bagged 10 wickets for the visitors as Hampshire were thrashed by an innings and 148 runs.

Electing to bat first, Somerset rattled up 500-6 with Neil Burns (102no), Mark Lathwell (99) and Richard Harden (97) in fine form.

In contrast, Hampshire crashed to 5-5 in reply with Caddick picking up four wickets and Tony Middleton, Sean Morris and Malcolm Marshall all out for ducks, with David Gower (3) and Paul Terry (2) also dismissed.

Hampshire recovered to 156 all out (Mark Nicholas 76, Caddick 6-48) before managing 196 all out (Caddick 4-44) after following on.

Blob - It was a similar, agonising story for Hampshire seven years later when Shane Warne made his Championship debut for the county.

This time Caddick claimed 5-62 and 7-64 at Southampton as the hosts were bowled out for 232 and 126 respectively, losing by nine wickets.

Current Hampshire director of cricket Giles White carried his bat for an undefeated 78 in the second innings, with Dimi Mascarenhas’ 17 the next highest innings.

2001 - Worcestershire (Rose Bowl)

Inspired by Dimi Mascarenhas’ highest ever Championship score, Hampshire recovered from a poor start to win the inaugural first class game held at the Rose Bowl.

Batting at No 8, Mascarenhas rescued his side from 79-6 with 104 - beating his previous best Championship score of 100 and helping Hampshire total 309.

No 9 Shaun Udal hit 23 before No 10 Alex Morris (32) put on 53 for the ninth wicket with Mascarenhas.

Graeme Hick’s 120 was the highlight of the visitors’ 236 all out reply, before Hampshire were bowled out for 159.

Morris (4-27) and Udal (4-32) ran through the Worcestershire order after Alan Mullally had dismissed dangermen Hick and Vikram Solanki cheaply.

The visitors’ last five wickets tumbled for nine runs as they were routed for 108 to lose by 124 runs.

Hampshire went on to win promotion from Division 2, behind south coast neighbours Sussex.

2002 - Kent (Canterbury)

It was a record-breaking debut for John Crawley and Hampshire in the first game of the 2002 Championship season.

Newly signed from Lancashire, the England international struck a remarkable 272 - at the time the fourth highest innings in Hampshire history. It remains the seventh highest, with Crawley’s two triple centuries against Nottinghamshire in 2004 and 2005 occupying second and fourth places.

Crawley’s 451-ball innings - containing 36 fours and lasting 576 minutes - helped Hampshire post a huge 671 all out in reply to Kent’s 577-7 declared total.

At the time that score was Hampshire’s second highest in Championship history, and their highest since 1899. It remains the third highest, only subsequently beaten by the 714-5 declared total against Notts in 2005.

Crawley shared a 232-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Neil Johnson (117), while fellow Hampshire debutant Nic Pothas hit 48.

2005 - Gloucestershire (Ageas Bowl)

Hampshire’s bowlers impressed as they lifted the curtain on a new season with a victory.

But not all of them did so with the ball, as Hampshire celebrated their first game back in the top flight with a 48-run success.

To start with, Simon Katich top scored with an unbeaten 72 as Hampshire were bowled out for 197, Gloucestershire then taking a first innings lead with 221.

The hosts were in some trouble at 145-7 in their second knock before skipper Shane Warne, batting at No 8, and Chris Tremlett (No 9) scored 62 and 64 respectively. With No 10 Richard Logan adding 28, Hampshire recovered to 275.

Gloucestershire were still on course for victory at 129-0 chasing 251, but Billy Taylor dismissed openers Craig Spearman and Phil Weston en route to what was then a career best 6-45 as the visitors were bowled out for 203.

Hampshire went on to finish runners-up to champions Nottinghamshire - 12 months after finishing second to the same county in the Division 2 table.

2019 - Essex (Ageas Bowl)

One of Hampshire’s best opening game victories came just 12 months ago.

Sam Northeast struck 169 as the hosts rattled up 525 before completing an innings victory over an Essex side who would go on to win the title for the second time in three years.

Rilee Rossouw (76), Liam Dawson (64) and debutant Aiden Markram (63) all hit half-centuries before Fidel Edwards’ 5-57 blast dismissed Essex for 164. Following on, Kyle Abbott’s 5-77 haul saw them bowled out for 274.

Essex didn’t lose another game, winning nine of their remaining 13 Championship games to lift the silverware.