Date-stamped : 30 May96 - 02:14 County Championship 1996 Hampshire v Durham United Services Recreation Ground, Portsmouth 23, 24, 25, 27 May 1996. ====> REPORT (Day 1, 23 May 1996) Connor and Aymes prop up crumbling Hampshire By Clive Ellis at Portsmouth First day of four: Hampshire 192-9 v Durham WILL the real Hampshire please stand up? The side who surrendered tamely in a flurry of ill-judged shots yesterday were un- recognisable from the disciplined task force who conquered for- tress Edgbaston on Monday. True, the pitch at the United Services ground gave its customary encouragement to pace bowlers, both of the swing and seam per- suasion, but batting was not the impossible exercise it was made to resemble before lunch. Adrian Aymes and Cardigan Connor launched a recovery in a ninth-wicket stand of 54 in 11 overs, which straddled two lengthy breaks for rain, and Hampshire finished in a position of near respectability. John Stephenson might easily have chosen to let his own bowlers off the leash after winning the toss; and his rapid re- turn to the pavilion, caught behind off the second ball of the day, would have given that option an even more attractive ring. Durham, for all their continuing struggle to achieve mid- table status, can point proudly to the fact that their opening bowlers, Simon Brown and Melvyn Betts, are the country`s leading wicket-takers - with 23 and 22 respectively - and both helped restrict Hampshire to 91 for seven at lunch. Brown followed Stephenson`s wicket with that of Jason Laney, caught down the legside off the last ball of the first over. That was one for two and Brown showed all the classic attri- butes of the left-armer in his opening spell, angling the ball across the right-hander and swinging it back in. He had taken three for two in 14 balls when he trapped Sean Morris leg before and any hopes of a meaningful Hampshire re- vival floundered in the face of dismal shot selection. John Wood, making his first championship appearance for more than a year because of injury, found an acquiescent victim almost immediately in Paul Whitaker, who failed to keep down a flick off his hip. Kevan James was out to a horrible miscued pull off Betts, who in four matches this season has exceeded his career tally of wick- ets. Giles White caught the self-destructive mood by playing on to Wood, and Betts gained an lbw decision against Shaun Udal. Aymes put his team-mates to shame with a thou-shall-not-pass attitude which contrasted entertainingly with the swashbuckling Connor. The fast bowler hooked Betts for six then cover-drove a sumptuous four in making his highest score for three years. James Boiling held a brilliant catch at cover to end his adventure. ====> NO PLAY ON DAY 2 ====> REPORT (Day 3, 25 May 1996) Campbell hopes for blue skies By Clive Ellis Third day of four: Durham 174-4 in reply to Hampshire 206 BATTING was an uncomplicated business for Sherwin Campbell when he toured with the West Indians last year. It looks anything but simple now that he is installed as Durham`s overseas player. Less than a month ago, he was showing limitless powers of con- centration in making a double hundred against New Zealand in the Caribbean. Nine innings into his Durham career, his highest score is 29, and that a Sunday salvo. He admits that the cheerless weather has not been to his liking. Durham need full value from their imported talent, and it is hard to believe - as long as blue skies prevail - that Campbell will not eventually repay their faith. The sun did shine yesterday, but the start was still delayed because of wet surrounds. Hampshire duly edged to a token bat- ting bonus point, thanks largely to Adrian Aymes`s unbeaten 48, an innings which took determined root before lunch on Thurs- day. He nursed Hampshire from the low point of 91 for seven to 206 all out, and Campbell`s defensive technique was soon being ex- amined by Stuart Milburn. Before lunch, Campbell edged Milburn past third slip`s left hand for a boundary, and after the interval he tried to give his batting a psychological uplift by dispensing with his hel- met. He danced around between balls in an effort to get his feet mov- ing; he may even have drawn on the memory of his 172 for the West Indians against Hampshire last year. But the illusion of confidence was rapidly exposed as he edged Milburn to wicket- keeper Aymes after making an unconvincing nine. Milburn has made the most of his second chance after four years of limited opportunities with Yorkshire. Mike Roseberry took 21 overs to make 10, and lingered dis- believingly at the crease after being given out lbw to left-armer Kevan James. The only positive strokeplay came from John Morris in an innings of 35, but he sliced John Stephenson to slip as Durham reached tea on 101 for three. ====> REPORT (Day 4, 27 May 1996) Blenkiron bats on By Clive Ellis Final day of four: Hampshire (206 & 97-5) drew with Durham (303-8 dec) DARREN BLENKIRON`S ambition was satisfied as he seized on his first opportunity of the season to score only the second hundred of his career, but his caution militated against a Durham victory at Portsmouth. Blenkiron, who added 156 for the fifth wicket with Paul Col- lingwood (80), batted through 38 overs yesterday to take the 31 runs he needed for his century and though Durham immediately de- clared, 97 runs ahead, they had only 47 overs in which to manoeuvre. Simon Brown and John Wood, with two wickets apiece, bowled with great heart to attacking fields, but Adrian Aymes defended stubbornly. Hampshire`s dismal performance on the field echoed the financial report of five days at the United Services Ground: gate receipts were even less than #1,300, compared with a normal five-figure return. Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http.//www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by Shash (shs2@*.cwru.edu)