Warwickshire secured their first championship win of the season, and only their fourth at Edgbaston since August 2006, with an eight-wicket victory over Hampshire
George Dobell at Edgbaston30-Apr-2010
ScorecardNeil Carter completed an excellent all-round game by thumping 24 from 20 balls to hurry his side to victory•Getty Images
Warwickshire secured their first championship win of the season, and only their fourth at Edgbaston since August 2006, with an eight-wicket victory over Hampshire. With rain threatening throughout the day, Warwickshire’s greatest concern was that they would run out of time. However, after losing 38 overs on the final day – and 114 in the match – the clouds parted just long enough for Warwickshire to race home with 14.4 overs to spare.But not before some anxious moments for their director of cricket, Ashley Giles, however. “I was up at 5am peering out of the window,” admitted Giles afterwards, “and I couldn’t sleep afterwards. “I don’t mind losing a day, but two days when you’re trying to win your first game of the season is a worry. Fortunately the gods were kind.”We played some average cricket at times but what is most pleasing is the way we showed some old-fashioned Bears resilience. From 98 for seven in the first innings, we were just hoping to get within 100 of them. So to gain a first innings lead was fantastic.”Defeat leaves Hampshire bottom of the division. With three losses from their first three games, their chances of winning the championship have already all but disappeared and, on this form, it will be matters at the foot of the table that are likely to occupy them for the rest of the summer.Their performance on the last day was typical. With rain forecast, it only needed one of the lower-order to remain with the admirable Sean Ervine for half-an-hour or so to make the game safe.Yet Nic Pothas fell in the day’s third over, bottom-edging an attempted cut, before Kabir Ali prodded at one outside off stump. James Tomlinson’s tentative prod was beaten by a good one angled across him, before Danny Briggs pushed obligingly at an outswinger and gifted a catch to slip.At least David Griffiths stayed with Ervine. The pair frustrated Warwickshire for 67 balls in adding 29 runs around several rain breaks but, when Neil Carter pinned Ervine on the boot with an inswinging yorker, it left Warwickshire requiring 78 to win in 32 overs.Though rain disrupted their run chase, Ian Westwood struck three successive fours off Tomlinson to see his side to the brink, before Ian Bell clubbed the winning runs with a drive down the ground.”It’s disappointing,” Hampshire’s team manager, Giles White, said afterwards. “It’s been a very frustrating trip, though I can’t fault the effort all the lads have put in. We’re not winning the key moments. We’re having very bad sessions which are taking away all the hard work. Am I under pressure? We’re all under pressure to perform and win.”In the end, the difference between the sides was Woakes and Carter. Not only did the pair claim 15 wickets but, in a low scoring game, they contributed 222 of Warwickshire’s runs. Had Woakes taken one more wicket in Hampshire’s second innings, he would have become only the third Warwickhsire player since the Second World War to score a century and claim a five-for in an innings. The others were Dougie Brown against Northants in 2004 and Tom Cartwright against Lancashire in 1961.”He showed his class,” Giles said. “He’s extremely talented. And he’s extremely talented mentally. He could probably bat at six eventually and be considered a genuine all-rounder.”But Carter was equally impressive. This was his second five-wicket haul in successive championship games and his match figures – nine for 130 – are the best of his career. “Carter has been a revelation,” Giles agreed. “He’s bowling quickly and he’s bowling consistently. I’ve not seen him bowl better.”If I’m honest he might not have played in the first game had Rikki Clarke been fit, but he’s taken his opportunity very well and delivered everything we’ve asked of him. We probably made a mistake going in with two spinners, too, as we could have done with another seamer. But we’ve got away with it.”To make matters worse for Hampshire, Kabir left the field before the end suffering from a “niggle” in the back. He is in Hampshire’s squad for Sunday, however, and the club are not overly concerned. Rangana Herath is also in the squad.