Cricket: Carberry’s unbeaten 148 stops Saltires’ victory march in Hampshire

AN unbeaten 148 from Hampshire’s Michael Carberry broke Scottish hearts in the CB40 league encounter at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.Carberry shared in century stands with Simon Katich and then Liam Dawson after Hampshire had slumped to 15 for two, needing 231 to complete a double over the Scots.

Scotland captain Gordon Drummond chose to bat first and they reached 230 for nine from their 40 overs, with the experienced Majid Haq top-scoring with an unbeaten 53 at a run a ball.

Key to Scotland’s steady total was a partnership of 80 between Haq and Preston Mommsen which held up Hampshire after the first five wickets had fallen for 97 on a gentle batting surface. Richie Berrington struck Dimitri Mascarenhas for six but was then caught behind in the same over and Jean Symes went the same way in Sean Ervine’s first over. Mommsen lifted left-arm spinner Danny Briggs for six on his way to an aggressive 48 but Briggs stuck to his task and had Mommsen caught at slip by Dawson just as Scotland looked to step up the pace.

Briggs finished with figures of three for 35, later dismissing Craig Wallace and Moneeb Iqbal with successive deliveries and both to lbw decisions.

Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams was out to the third ball of the innings and James Vince was lbw to Drummond at the end of the third over. At that point an upset was a distinct possibility but Carberry soon showed his class by leading a strong recovery. Australian Katich made 41 before his dismissal to a catch behind by Wallace off Matt Parker induced some concern in the Hampshire camp.

Scotland were due to face Surrey today.