Cricket: Middleton awaits

Hampshire 100-2 v Notts

THE PROLIFIC Hampshire opening batsman, Tony Middleton, with an average in the plump 70s, gazed out on a spongy, sweating Southampton outfield. 'In our position, there is nothing to be gained by not playing, even if it's raining everywhere. You just want to get on with the game,' he said.

It was one of those sultry days when the downpours were carefully timed to frustrate even such optimistic umpires as Vanburn Holder and Ray Julian. The first day of Hampshire's Championship match against Nottinghamshire was washed away, and yesterday it was drizzling right through two sessions.

The position Middleton was referring to is second in the table, and a week away from the Benson and Hedges Cup final against Kent. When a team is on such a roll, the rival attractions of the card school and Agassi versus McEnroe are slighter than usual. Surprisingly, Middleton's wish to play was granted. The sun came out, the field simmered and a start was fixed for 4.15pm, with 37 overs of the day left and five sessions wasted.

Fifteen minutes later, and this officially would have been a one-innings game. As it is, the skippers must agree to that format, if they wish - each forfeiting an innings and thus half their potential bonus points.

Tim Robinson won the toss, asked Mark Nicholas to fret over the declaration mathematics, and Middleton took guard with Paul Terry against the New Zealand all-rounder, Chris Cairns, and the bustling Andy Pick.

In the first hour, Pick tried both ends, with the tall, brisk Kevin Evans as the third seamer, but the pitch showed little sign of feeling bad-tempered after its sauna, allowing Hampshire a steady start. Watchful, because the occasional ball from the lively trio spat or seamed from the wicket. But, in the finest weather of the day, Terry and Middleton grew in confidence and began to trust the pitch.

Eventually Terry trusted it too much, attempted to pull Cairns, and was walking before Derek Randall caught the top edge at mid-off. The introduction of the spinner, Andy Afford, saw off Kevan James, stumped by Bruce French, but in the evening the Hampshire batsmen were doing their bit towards setting up the last day.