Cricket: Family fare by Rhodes and Udal

Hampshire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .300-8 dec and 22-0

South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .264-9 dec

AS IT should be on the Sabbath, it was a day out for the whole family here, and Jonty Rhodes duly laid on some rich entertainment. The South African also came close to laying out his wife after tea with the first six of his innings. Unfortunately, it was his last, too, though there had been 13 other boundaries to applaud in his 99-ball stay for 77.

Then again, if anyone thought yesterday's fun had reached a conclusion, they were well wide of the mark. While the tourists went looking for some quick runs with a declaration in mind, Hampshire weighed in handsomely before it arrived with a spell of wicket-taking that had the supporters cheering.

The local hero in this sudden reversal of fortunes, Hampshire's attack hitherto having come in for some rough treatment, was Shaun Udal. Rhodes had departed at 227 for 6, a skier off the off-spinner splendidly judged by Rupert Cox after a long run-round from midwicket to wide mid- on. Thus began a helter-skelter of departures.

One run later, and Richard Snell was on his way for a duck while, in the next over, delivered by Cardigan Connor, Udal swooped at second slip to account for David Richardson. Nor was Udal quite finished, because he then had Pat Symcox caught behind.

At this point, Udal had taken three wickets in seven balls and was holding figures of 5 for 54, while Hampshire had profited to the tune of four wickets in 13 deliveries. The South Africans were then 228 for 9 and a little bit short of expectations, though Allan Donald and Tim Shaw added a further 36, which was the exact number of arrears when Kepler Wessels called a halt. The captain had earlier added to the cause before Udal's first slip catch of the day brought about his downfall. Udal also took out Gary Kirsten, who packed eight fours into his first half-century of the tour, and Brian McMillan, snapped up at forward short leg by Giles White.

One man mightily relieved, meanwhile, was Daryll Cullinan, who scored an unbeaten 337 for Transvaal last season. A duck against Kent, though, was followed by another against Sussex, but at least he avoided the hat-trick here following Hampshire's morning declaration.