By Janet
May 4 2006

Our reporter at the ground, Janet, reports on the first two day's action. It seems she stayed awake marginally longer than Hippity today, which is excellent. Hopefully, the two reports combine harmoniously. I too was very disappointed with day 1, and it was obvious by lunch time that Ben H had made the monumental error in batting first (still everyone learns from their mistakes).

I had a comfortable night in the Holiday Inn and arrived at the ground bright and early.

Both days it was good to see friends who had made the effort to turn up.

I was chatting to the scorer who said Ben was in two minds whether to bat first or bowl first when he won the toss. Don kindly got me a ticket from the boys' dressing room, and I went in the ground hoping for better things today. I did overhear one of the bowlers telling someone that we bowled terribly yesterday (I don't think it prudent to name and shame him). The bowlers certainly stuck to their task well today, but the damage had been done with a deficit of over 300 runs to make up to make them bat again.

I recorded a 'first' as I actually managed to get a photo of a 'wicket ball' when Smith took a catch off Silverwood (I only have Silverwood and batsman in photo and will submit it if it is worthy).

Second time round our batsmen were more circumspect, even though 3 of them fell just when they looked like they'd get a big total. Even the partisan Hampshire faithful appreciated Strauss' century, and thankfully he is still there. Jamie Dalrymple confidently played Warne to be caught behind off Irvine at 6.15pm. I thought that they'd send a 'night watchman' in at that stage of proceedings, but Nick Compton came in (some of you knockers would say that he is a night watchman). He also played Warne confidently, so I am hopeful that if Strauss and Compton can stay at the crease, we might just survive until the bad weather arrives.