(posted 7916 days ago)Times
August 23, 2002Saqlain applies fresh spin to Surrey ambition
By Thrasy PetropoulosTHE OVAL (first day of four; Hampshire won toss): Hampshire have scored 190 runs against Surrey
IF PAKISTAN contributed to India’s film industry, the events of yesterday’s play would no doubt soon be the stuff of Bollywood. Out flew Mushtaq Ahmed, who had contributed eight wickets in Surrey’s victory at Grace Road, and in stepped Saqlain Mushtaq, with five on his first day back at the Oval. One international man of mystery had replaced another and, predictably, the changeover had been seamless.
When these teams next meet, in mid-September, their fate will probably have already been determined. The Championship pennant will almost certainly have returned to Kennington and Hampshire, recently promoted, will most probably have been relegated for the second time in three years.
The disparity between the abilities of these sides can scarcely have been more evident than yesterday. The absence of Alan Mullally, Chris Tremlett and Adrian Aymes will not have helped Hampshire, but it was a lack of belief that told against them. Clearly intimidated, they offered virtually nothing in the face of a calculated, professional display of bowling.
Eight wickets fell to leg-before decisions or close catches off the spinners with Saqlain, on his return from international duty for Pakistan in Morocco, claiming five for 59 from 34.2 overs. At the other end, Ian Salisbury, relishing a day on which batsmen were not interested in trying to break up his length, took three for 44.
It is probable that Hampshire would have disintegrated against either seam or spin — James Ormond had claimed two for 41 from 18 when he rested for the last time — but Adam Hollioake, the Surrey captain, had telegraphed his intentions by introducing Saqlain as early as the fourteenth over, by which time only 11 runs had been scored off the bat.
Twenty-eight overs later, Hampshire were a parlous 93 for six, a position from which they were unlikely to recover. Will Kendall’s 36, that ended with a bat-pad prod off Saqlain, highlighted their struggles.
Although he had scored five boundaries, his other 16 runs had consumed 83 balls.
That Hampshire went on to reach 190 was down, predominantly, to Nic Pothas with a 2˝-hour innings of 58 that was worth considerably more on a dry pitch that offered turn before lunch and that will become increasingly difficult for batsmen to negotiate.
To fight is in Pothas’s nature. Having been signed by Hampshire as a European Union passport-holder last winter, he initially found his path blocked by the ECB, who stated that he would have to serve a four-year qualification period after playing three one-day internationals for South Africa in 2000.
With David Ligertwood, the former Surrey wicketkeeper, acting as his agent, Pothas informed the ECB that he was willing to challenge the ruling in court as illegal restraint of trade. The ECB took counsel and changed the qualification period to one year, which Pothas served by playing for Gauteng, the province of his birth, as an overseas player.
It was not surprising, therefore, that Pothas should attempt the only stroke of dominance against Saqlain, a memorable sweep that cleared the deep square-leg boundary. Martin Bicknell’s return after tea was greeted with an exquisite straight drive for four.
However, having resisted for 155 balls, the second of which carried to Ian Ward at third slip off Ormond only to be put down, Pothas pushed forward against Saqlain and turned to short leg where Nadeem Shahid took a straightforward catch.
With Saqlain registering his best figures of the season, however, Hampshire are unlikely to escape further punishment. They have so far been outplayed by a side who carry themselves as if they are in a different league to these opponents — which, before long, they will most probably be.