Report

Hall makes final day century

Andrew Hall struck his second century in consecutive County Championship games as Division Two leaders Northamptonshire's clash with Hampshire predictably petered out into a draw.

01-Jun-2013
Northamptonshire 425 for 9 dec. (Hall 130*, Murphy 81) drew with Hampshire 206 (Dawson 76, Copeland 4-56)
Scorecard
Andrew Hall struck his second century in consecutive County Championship games as Division Two leaders Northamptonshire's clash with Hampshire predictably petered out into a draw.
Hall, who also made a ton against Leicestershire at Wantage Road two weeks ago, piled on an unbeaten 130 from 295 balls, as Northants eventually declared on 425 for 9, prompting the two captains to shake hands.
Wicketkeeper David Murphy also made a career-best 81 off 119 deliveries with James Tomlinson the pick of Hampshire's bowlers, taking 3 for 75 as his team-mates were made to toil in the field.
Northants began the day on 159 for 5, 47 runs behind their opponents, with former South Africa allrounder Hall resuming on 29 and James Middlebrook on 8. But Middlebrook added just two to his overnight total before Tomlinson's delivery crashed into his off stump in the fifth over of the day.
Tomlinson struck again in his next over when David Willey edged him to former Zimbabwe international Sean Ervine at first slip to depart for a six-ball duck. But Hall stuck around to complete a patient half-century from 116 deliveries as part of a 117-run partnership with Australia international Trent Copeland.
Copeland was given a second chance on 34 when he was dropped at second slip by Liam Dawson off David Balcombe before he raced to 50 off 63 balls. He and Hall surpassed Northants' previous record eighth-wicket stand against Hampshire of 95, made between Nigel Felton and Winston Davis at Bournemouth in 1990.
Copeland eventually departed on 63 from the third ball after lunch when he was trapped lbw by Danny Briggs before Hall completed his 14th century in first-class cricket off 209 balls. He had now been joined at the crease by Murphy and he comfortably completed his first half-century of the season off 80 deliveries.
The pair went on to set a new record ninth-wicket partnership for the hosts against their opponents, going past the 97 shared between Gordon Williamson and Keith Andrew at Northampton in 1961.
Northants resumed after tea on 390 for 8 with seeing out time the only priority, although Murphy did exceed his previous best of 79, which he struck against Glamorgan in May 2011. He finally perished when he launched Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams to Ervine at mid-on to break the partnership on 132.
The draw was then agreed 10 minutes later at 4:50pm, with Northants coming out of this contest with nine points and Hampshire six.

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County Championship Division Two

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