Sammy misses out as Hampshire suffer disappointing defeat

Darren Sammy missed out on a debut for Hampshire. Picture: Sarah Standing

The visitors were outplayed from start to finish as they put in a disappointing performance.

New arrival Darren Sammy didn’t feature in the visitors line-up due to registration issues.

With Hampshire needing Ryan McLaren for their County Championship match against Middlesex starting on Sunday it meant the West Indies T20 World Cup winning captain had to be left out.

Hampshire captain Sean Ervine asked Middlesex to bat after winning the toss but things didn’t go to plan.

Ervine used seven different bowlers in the opening 10 overs with the hosts making an impressive start.

Dawid Malan smashed his first five deliveries to the boundary ropes and Tino Best was plundered for 17 runs in the second over of the game.

Malan continued to dominate racing to 50 off 27 balls striking eight fours and a six.

Hampshire grabbed a couple of quick wickets but Malan and Adam Voges put on 59 to keep Middlesex ticking over nicely.

Malan was eventually caught by Best off the bowling of Gareth Andrew for 98 runs but the damage was done as Middlesex ended on 195 for six.

In reply Hampshire suffered an early blow when Jimmy Adams (11) fell to a magnificent catch on the boundary.

Michael Carberry and Adam Wheater, however, started to set about the home bowlers and Harry Podmore was blasted for 19 runs in the fourth over.

The loss of two quick wickets, though, put Hampshire on the back foot at 55 for three.

Wheater lobbed a catch to mid-on and very next ball Ervine was clean bowled by Toby Roland Jones.

Afridi drove his first ball for four through mid-on to the boundary but the loss of Carberry left the visitors in trouble at 63 for four.

It got worse when Afridi was run out looking for a second run with just one added to the total.

The loss of four wickets for nine runs was a devastating blow for Ervine’s team.

The misery continued when Ryan McLaren and Will Smith fell to successive balls from Ravi Patel.

Liam Dawson produced some late resistance (46) but it was too little too late.

Hampshire will be determined to bounce back quickly when they host Kent in their next outing.