It is amazing how a day’s final act can change a match’s complexion. Hampshire had worked hard for their first-innings 413, an imposing score on a pitch that offers the bowlers plenty. They then bowled impressively but as Nick Compton and Joe Burns built a partnership after the cheap loss of the Middlesex openers, it seemed like the home side were not to achieve the dominant position their performance warranted.
But Burns, Middlesex’s new Australian signing, took a wild hooking swoosh at the day’s penultimate ball – a Sean Ervine bouncer – and was caught behind for a stylish 38, leaving his side 102 for three and 311 in arrears. Even with further rain forecast – play did not get under way until 2.15 – this is the strongest position Hampshire have found themselves in this season, after their most impressive session of bowling. Their hopes of survival in Division One – after two wins and two draws – would take an even bigger boost if they convert it into a victory.
It did not start well for Hants as Toby Roland-Jones, off surely county cricket’s longest run, bowled Ervine with the ninth ball of the day. Will Smith picked up where he left off on Sunday to reach 93, while Gareth Berg was lusty and loose in his 50, before both fell hooking short balls in the same Neil Dexter over.
Fidel Edwards’s wicket shortly after meant Hampshire had lost three for five and Dexter dismissed the last man, James Tomlinson, to finish with five for 64, his third first-class five wicket haul.
Middlesex had a full session to bat and would have been content had they been 102 for two at the end of it. The South African-born, British passport-holding 18-year-old debutant Brad Wheal became the youngest man, alongside Alan Mullally, to open the bowling for Hampshire and castled Sam Robson with one that nipped back through the gate with the final ball of his third over. He replaced Andre Adams, who made his first-class debut when Wheal was just one, and with a classic action skid and genuine pace, may take some dislodging. Wheal – whose mother is from Glasgow – was delighted with his first day on the job, saying: “It was really incredible coming in as a youngster and getting the wicket of an England Test player is really quite something, so I’m really excited.”
Edwards then trapped Nick Gubbins with his first ball, before Compton and Burns set about their attractive stand of 69, which contained 13 boundaries. Michael Carberry dropped Burns on eight, but the Queenslander’s 11th-hour brain fade meant it was not as costly as it should have been. The sight of Compton battering his pad as he left the field behind Burns told you everything you needed to know.
