News

Kenway century leads Hampshire to solid position

Hampshire overcame a problematic morning to end the first day of their important Frizzell County Championship Division Two clash with Somerset in the driving seat, thanks to a superb century from Derek Kenway.

Richard Isaacs
26-Aug-2003
Hampshire overcame a problematic morning to end the first day of their important Frizzell County Championship Division Two clash with Somerset in the driving seat, thanks to a superb century from Derek Kenway.
Kenway, fresh from a match-winning century for the second XI last week,was called up alongside James Hamblin and Lawrence Prittipaul at short notice when Simon Katich (flu), Alan Mullally (ankle) and John Francis (shingles) all withdraw before play began.
Asked to bat first on a wicket which looked like it had a tinge of green about it, Kenway batted supremely, striking 18 fours in his second ton of the season from just 129 deliveries. He was well supported by John Crawley (60) but Hampshire lost their way having reached 175-1.
And they were not helped when Robin Smith's troublesome hamstring, which kept him on the sidelines for some six weeks recently, flared up again and forced him to retire hurt with only seven to his name. He did return to the crease with James Adams as his runner, but doubts must now reign about whether this may be the final act in his glittering career.
Pothas (21), Prittipaul with a timely 39 and Hamblin (31) all made useful contributions as the visitors picked up a third batting point just before bad light brought an early close to the day at 300-7. England seamer Richard Johnson was the pick of the bowlers with 3-67.