Tilak Varma continues his fine run for Hampshire with another 100 that sees them inch closer to Notts’ total.
Tilak Varma century steers Hampshire towards safe passage.
At Utilita Bowl, Hampshire battled valiantly to hold title-challenging Nottinghamshire at bay, as Tilak Varma once again demonstrated his immense potential with his second century in three games.
The Indian sensation Varma increased his average during his time in Hampshire to little under 79 by adding 112. In order to chip away at Nottinghamshire’s massive 578 first-inning total, he put up 42 with Nick Gubbins, 58 with Ben Brown, and most significantly, 126 with Felix Organ.
With 61 runs remaining to avoid the follow-on, Organ finished the day undefeated at 71, ensuring Hampshire would not lose on the last day.
The night before, Fletcha Middleton and Joe Weatherley had hunkered down for 32 overs of hard work. In the morning, they collected half-centuries and received their awards. Both displayed survival-style opening batting, scoring 94 runs between them, without any ostentation.
Weatherley was caught on the hook after being bounced out by Mo Abbas after reaching 52. Middleton edged Abbas behind and fell on Nelson after scoring 52 as well.
Abbas day seemed inevitable all of a sudden. For four seasons, the Hampshire attack was led by the Pakistani international, who claimed 180 wickets at an average of less than 20. At Utilita Bowl, the Weatherley scalp was his 100th.
Despite his mid-morning outburst, the pitch didn’t give the spinners regular turn, the Kookaburra ball softened, and fast bowling required patience. Before Tom Prest hoicked loosely to mid-on, Liam Patterson-White ripped one to pin Nick Gubbins lbw while playing not shot.
The Hampshire skipper went leg-before to Lyndon James following a 58-run partnership, while Brown appeared to be the man to stay with Varma.
Varma has been a titan during Hampshire’s low red-ball era. His arrival, facilitated by the influence of Indian owners GMR Group, has calmed the middle-order and added plenty of runs.
Throughout those innings, he has hardly appeared to be dislodged. He began with a century against Essex, followed by 56 and 47 against Worcestershire, and then this century. When the proper danger factors are fulfilled, Varma’s superpower—his ability to judge line and length—can draw boundaries.
With 29 international caps already, they will undoubtedly only increase in the near future. The left-hander scored his century with 203 deliveries, but Organ, who took no chances, outplayed him in patience with lengthy stretches of no scoring.