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Sri Lanka moved into fourth place in the ICC rankings following their series win over India, swapping places with England who slip to fifth after their loss to South Africa.India remain in third, but are now only one point ahead of Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka are not due to play another Test until they visit England next May but, if Australia beat India convincingly when they visit there later this year, Sri Lanka could still move into third. It is so close at the top that if India win that series convincingly they can leapfrog South Africa into second place.

ICC Test Championship

11 Aug 2008

The Junior Sabres website auction is gathering momentum and by the end of the day on Wednesday had received bids amounting to over £300.The highest bid for any lot had been made for the new captain Mike Burns Gunn and Moore 2002 cricket bat that currently stands at £75, and with ten days still remaining this is expected to go higher.When Peter Bowler called in at the County Ground during the afternoon he was so impressed with the with the response that there had been to the lots on offer that he donated two items of his playing equipment to help to swell the funds.The veteran batsman, who became a father for the third time just a few weeks ago, donated the Millichamp and Hall bat that he used during the 2002 season and his Millichamp and Hall batting gloves to add to the website auction.There are now eleven lots in the auction with Peter Bowler’s cricket bat becoming Lot number 10, and his batting gloves Lot number 11.A bid for both of the new items has already been received. £35 has been bid for Lot number 10, and £15 for Lot number 11.An updated list of bids received for all lots will be posted on the site over this coming weekend and please remember that the auction will close on November 30th.Anybody wishing to view the full list of items of offer can find them on the features list on the lower section of the title page of the website.Bids for any item in the auction should be sent to [email protected] items in the auction are genuine and all monies raised by the auction will go towards the Junior Sabres members of the club.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Mahendra Singh Dhoni lost the toss but everything else went right for his team, beginning with some tight bowling, as the Chennai Super Kings won the match against the Deccan Chargers and a spot in the semi-finals at the expense of the Mumbai Indians. Chennai will face Kings XI Punjab, whom they have defeated twice in the league games, in one semi-final, while Rajasthan Royals take on Delhi Daredevils in the other.Chennai had conceded 211 against Rajasthan in their previous game but the bowlers were up to the task this time as Deccan’s final attempt to win at home win went awry. Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs and Shahid Afridi made a combined total of 14 runs, and though Venugopal Rao and Ravi Teja propped them up to 147, it wasn’t enough. Chennai had an early wobble, but Suresh Raina, who came in to bat in the fourth over, steered them home with an unbeaten 54.Chennai’s opening bowlers were on the mark from the start: Makhaya Ntini bowled with pace and got good bounce and carry, while Manpreet Gony, the team’s leading wicket-taker, stuck to an impeccable length on off stump and bowled through his four overs for 21. And they reaped the rewards soon, as both Gibbs and Gilchrist found the fielder at third man – Gibbs with a slash, and Gilchrist with a thick outside-edge.Deccan’s early runs came mainly in singles and Scott Styris, who has had a terrible tournament, seemed to be getting into rhythm with boundaries in the arc between midwicket and mid-on till he was bowled by Muttiah Muralitharan while trying to hit one across. At 57 for 3 after 10.1 overs, Deccan needed a partnership and Rao and Teja came up with a 76-run stand that lent respectability to the eventual total. Muralitharan was hard to get away but the two went after Balaji in the 14th over, which cost 14.They managed to up the run-rate with a boundary every over, and Rao, often at the centre of Deccan’s rearguard actions, hit one to bring up the 100 in the 16th over. There was a flurry of runs in the 18th as well, as Teja slashed one high into the stands off Ntini in an over which cost 15. That he still ended with figures of 1 for 24 off his four indicated just how frugal he was in his first three overs.That burst was followed by a flurry of wickets, including three – one of them a run-out – in three balls in the 19th. The crowd had chanted Afridi’s name but he lasted two balls as Deccan limped to 147.Deccan, and Mumbai, needed a wicket early and RP Singh nearly got the breakthrough as Stephen Fleming fended at one that swung away, but both Gilchrist and Styris were late to react. Fleming and his fellow left-hand opener Parthiv Patel cashed in when the bowlers erred: short and wide deliveries were dispatched for fours. P Vijaykumar then decided to go round the wicket, and it worked, as Fleming got a thick outside-edge while trying to force a drive through the covers.

In came Raina and he soon found his rhythm, slapping one riskily in the air through the covers, before punching one through the same region. Afridi was brought into the attack as early as the fifth over, and he put a brake on the scoring. At the other end, Raina got consecutive boundaries in Sarvesh Kumar’s first over, but the pressure applied from Afridi worked as Parthiv played straight to cover in Sarvesh’s next, Afridi taking the catch.Raina was joined by Dhoni, and the 55-run stand between the two put Chennai on course for victory. Dhoni started with two streaky boundaries – he hit one straight to Sarvesh first-up, who fluffed a chance, and followed with a thick outside-edge which flew to the third-man boundary. With left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and Styris managing to curb the runs, Dhoni decided to take a few risks. He stepped out to deposit Ojha over long-on, and after a miscued pull nearly landed in Gibbs’ hands at midwicket, he cut Styris for four. Afridi came back with 52 needed off 42 balls, and Dhoni hit one dead-straight for four, before Raina powered a shorter delivery over midwicket for six.Chennai were cruising towards the target, but had a brief wobble after Dhoni found Gibbs at long-on. That Ojha over, the 16th, went just for three, and when Styris conceded the same in the next, Chennai were left needing 28 off 18. Another tight over and Deccan could have still been in the hunt, but Raina found the gap at midwicket as Ojha bowled a full toss. He was dropped by RP in the 19th over, and hit the winning six – which brought up his fifty – as Chennai reached their target with four balls to spare.While Dhoni and Co were relieved and celebrated the win, Gilchrist looked ahead after a disastrous first season, in which last-placed Deccan won just two of their 14 games. “I do not have any excuses. It depends which way you look it.,” he said. “It’s not end of the world. We should settle down, make a self-assessment and think over where we went wrong and plan for the future.”

Southern Sui Gas Company (SSGC) qualified to set up a quarterfinal clash with Baqai Dolphins after scoring a narrow 10-run victory over A.J. Worldwide in the 8th Tapal Trophy Ramazan Cricket Festival at UBL Sports Complex here Monday.SSGC owed their win to Saad Umar, who hit 75 off 52 balls with six sixes and two fours and then claimed two crucial wickets for 11 runs.Batting first, SSGC made 201 for five in their 25 overs, mainly because of a fine opening stand of 107 between Man-of-the-Match Saad and Ashraf Ali (54 off 46 balls, four sixes and two fours).A.J. Worldwide, in reply, were all out for 191 in 24.5 overs. Opener Khurram Manzoor struck a whirlwind 57 off 36 deliveries. His knock was laced with seven fours and a brace of sixes.Rashid Hanif, the slow left-armer, captured three for 34.Tuesday’s final league game between A.O. CC and Customs Academy will complete the quarterfinal line-ups. A straight win for Customs will pit them against Tapal CC in the first quarterfinal Wednesday.In case A.O. CC win, then net run-rate will decide the qualifiers from Group ‘C’ because three teams, including KBCA, will have the same number of points.In other quarterfinals, Group ‘C’ winners Dewan Sugar Mills take on Group ‘A’ runners-up Shalimar CC on Thursday, Group ‘B’ champions KESC meet DHA, the Group ‘D’ runners-up, on Friday while Group ‘D’ leaders Baqai Dolphins clash against runners-up of Group ‘B’ SSGC on Saturday.Summarised scores:SSGC 201-5 in 25 overs (Saad Umar 75, Ashraf Ali 54, Irfanullah 20, Rashid Hanif 20; Akbar Rehman 2-30);A.J. WORLDWIDE 191 in 24.5 overs (Khurram Manzoor 57, Fahim Ahmed 35, Atif Raza 26; Rashid Hanif 3-34, Saad Umar 2-11, Saeed Asif 2-28)Tuesday’s fixture: Customs Academy v A.O. CC at 1.00pm

Lymington propelled themselves into the heart of the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 promotion race with a comprehensive 109-run victory over United Services at the Sports Ground.Zimbabwean skipper Danny Peacock led the way for Lymington, top scoring in the New Forest club’s powerful 265-9 and then taking four wickets as United Services dipped to a disappointing 156 all out in reply.Lymington’s sixth successive win sets up a titanic Rose Bowl duel next Saturday against the Hampshire Academy, who maintained the Division 2 leadership with a four-wicket success at Rowledge.But Easton & Martyr Worthy are second – three points behind the Academy – after beating Old Tauntonians & Romsey by six wickets.Lymington asserted their authority during the afternoon session, but initially were never entirely comfortable with 265-9, particularly after their own record-breaking 286-run chase against Hungerford a fortnight ago."After what happened in the Hungerford game, it was in the back of my mind that we might not have scored enough," Peacock admitted."But I backed our bowlers, particularly Aaron Heal and myself, both spinners, who I knew would be difficult to get away."Lymington motored merrily along at four an over from the start, with Peacock’s second-wicket partnership with Heal providing the platform for a sizeable total.The young Western Australian left-hander didn’t time the ball as sweetly as he might have liked, but hit nine fours in an effective 57 before departing at 112-2, just after the mid-innings drinks break.Peacock and Ben Craft (42) ran well, really upping the anti and taking advantage of the fast outfield as Lymington moved menacingly to 202-2, with nine overs left.But Peacock, who struck a six and seven fours in a fluent 75, and Craft departed in quick succession as United Services created middle-order inroads."I thought the lads came back well at that stage, taking four wickets for only six runs," said skipper Gary Hounsome.But Lymington reasserted themselves through youngsters Ian Young (27) and Matt Molloy (23), who plundered 48 runs off the last five overs as the total advanced to 265-9 off 50 overs.Zimbabwean wicket-keeper Warren Gilmour bagged four catches, all off Damian Carson, who finished with a rather expensive 5-74 off ten overs."I must say we fancied ourselves at tea. It was a great batting track, even though 266 was a lot to get."But we batted poorly, with all ten batsmen giving their wickets away. Bad shots got us out," Hounsome confessed.US came out of the traps at breakneck speed – only to lose university pair Tom Clarke and James Robson to consecutive Trevor Phillips deliveries.Their dismissals – Robson was bizarrely caught first ball at long-leg – set the tone for Services, who were clearly looking to the unwell, but nonetheless impressive Pete Andrew to fire their challenge.Andrew, suffering from a bout of food poisoning, punished Phillips and left-armer Martin Hunt with a host of boundary shots.But soon after Lymington switched from seam to spin, US began to buckle.Peacock, bowling off-spin, removed Hounsome (23) at 88-3 and then got the vital break at 104-4 by removing Andrew for a forceful 57.The Services batsmen contrived to offer up catches all around – Peacock finishing with 4-33 and Heal, varying his flight and line, taking 3-40 as the Portsmouth side sank to 156 all out in the 35th over."To be all out with 15 overs left was little short of scandalous," Hounsome complained. "It just summed up the way we batted, but there was no doubt the better side won on the day."

An explosive century by captain Ronnie Irani swept Essex to a six-wicket victory over Derbyshire at Chelmsford to catapult them up the Division Two table in the Frizzell County Championship. Set 190 to win after a spirited effort by Derbyshire in their second innings, Essex were in trouble at 26 for three until Irani struck 101 from 76 balls with 12 fours and three sixes as his side scored at nearly six an over to claim their tenth victory in 12 competitive matches this season.Derbyshire resumed on 73 for five on the final day and had added only ten runs to the total when Jason Kerr was bowled by John Stephenson. However, that was when Karl Krikken joined Kevin Dean and the pair frustrated further Essex attempts to break through while adding 67 for the seventh wicket.It was only when Dean was out for 48 shortly after lunch that Essex saw a chance of victory in a match severely restricted by rain. Even then, Krikken went on to make 48 before he was last out, setting the target in a minimum of 34 overs, providing the rain did not return.Darren Robinson hit four fours before he was out with the score on 16, Graham Napier was run out after facing three balls with the total on 26, and John Stephenson fell before the total had moved on. That was when Irani joined Andy Flower to put on 155 for the fourth wicket. Flower was on 55 not out when the winning runs were hit with one over to spare.

An extraordinary day which saw both sides threaten to win the third Test butultimately ended with a draw as the Kensington Oval again threw up a realnail-biter. By stumps it was the South Africans applying almost unbearablepressure with Mervyn Dillon and Dinanath Ramnarine defending tigerishly, andplay-acting even more determinedly.By a farcical close, South Africa were just three wickets short ofpulling off the most unlikely of victories, but Dillon’s bat in particularhas been a defensive barn door already in this series and as the SouthAfricans encircled him with fielders, he blocked everything which came hisway.Ramnarine, meanwhile,did his best to frustrate the South Africans with aclassic display of time-wasting, taking studious care to tap downnon-existent bumps in the pitch and then calling the physio out with somestrapping for a hamstring injury which had suddenly appeared from nowhere.Umpire Steve Bucknor eventually had enough of his antics and issued him withan official warning.In one of those wonderful cricketing ironies, the substantial crowd endedthe day cheering every ball the tail-enders survived as loud as any boundaryfrom Brian Lara or Carl Hooper on Saturday.It was probably a fair conclusion to a hard-fought Test match, duringwhich the tourists almost always held the upper hand but never quite forcedhome their superiority. It also leaves the series well balanced, as thesides go into the fourth Test in Antigua which starts on Friday with SouthAfrica still holding a 1-0 lead.Chasing an improbable 265 to win off 36 overs, the West Indies looked tobe doing all that was required to see the game out safely. Wavell Hinds (8)nudged and nurdled while Chris Gayle (48) hammered the ball to all parts inhis now familiar cavalier style.Even when Hinds fell to Nicky Boje, there did not appear to be too muchcause for concern, the left-hander not quite getting to the pitch as hedrove at the left-arm spinner and edging a simple chance to Daryll Cullinanat first slip.Marlon Samuels fell to the same combination for three, but Gayle wasstill blowing extremely hot. Having taken 14 off the first over after teabowled by Shaun Pollock, he continued to go on the attack, eventually undoneby his own belligerence as he edged a big drive at Kallis to Mark Boucher.When Ramnaresh Sarwan (0) shouldered arms to a delivery from JacquesKallis which clipped off-stump, the West Indies were 64-4 and one sensedthat for the first time the South Africans believed they could win thematch.CaptainHooper (5) edged a perfect Boje delivery to Boucher, RidleyJacobs (1) was snapped up at silly point by McKenzie off the same bowler andBrian Lara missed a big inswinger from Lance Klusener to be bowled foreight, scored off 58 balls. At 82-7 it was time for the heroics andtheatrics of Dillon and Ramnarine.The South African declaration came shortly before Cullinan fell 18 runsshy of what would have been his second century in the match, his third inthe series and one that would have extended his South African record forTest hundreds to 15. Cullinan was very well caught by Brian Lara at firstslip as he got a bottom edge to a heave across the line at Ramnarine.It was Cullinan’s stand of 70 for the seventh wicket with Pollock (40)which took South Africa from a position of considerable danger (97-6) to apoint where they had made the match safe.Pollock fell for 40, driving at an away-swinger from Courtney Walsh, theedge flying to Hooper at second slip. Pollock struck six boundaries ina cameo performance of counter-attacking cricket.Ramanarine picked up the wickets of Cullinan and then Allan Donald,batting with a runner, in consecutive deliveries. How annoyed theleg-spinner would have been to see South Africa declare as he stood on ahat-trick with Makhaya Ntini as opposition is anyone’s guess. Consolationwas career-best figures of 5-78.After the first three overs of the day were blocked away for maidens,overnight batsmen Cullinan and Kallis went on the attack, Cullinan loftingHooper for six onto the Kensington stand roof and then over mid-on for fourin the same over.But the first hour was to belong to the West Indies and just as Kallislooked to be settling, he edged a bat-pad chance off Hooper straight toSarwan at short-leg and was gone for 20, made off 88 balls with three fours.Klusener has had a dreadful tour with the bat and his miserable runcontinued as he scratched around for 17 balls before driving Ramnarinestraight to Cameron Cuffy at mid-off to depart for just four.Strangely, Klusener stood his ground waiting for a decision from umpireDarryl Hair, presumably in the belief that it had been a bump ball. But anod of the head from Hair was enough, and television replays showed quiteplainly that Klusener could have no complaints.The Kensington Oval will not go down as Boucher’s favourite groundeither. After making just three in the first innings, the ‘keeper failed toget off the mark this time as a perfect leg-spinner from Ramnarine took theoutside edge and was very well taken by Ridley Jacobs behind the stumps.

In October 1952, India were Pakistan’s first Test opponents. In October 1992, exactly forty years later, India became Zimbabwe’s first Test opponents. It was India’s signal honour to engage Zimbabwe in their maiden Test but unlike most of the other countries who crumbled under pressure and succumbed meekly, Zimbabwe came out with flying colours. In fact, they had India in trouble and it was with some effort that the visitors, on paper much the stronger team, wriggled out.It was a short tour consisting only of a practice one day game, the Test match and a One Day International (which India won by 30 runs), with all matches being played at Harare. The trip was a prelude to the path breaking maiden Indian tour of South Africa, but Zimbabwe provided the visiting team with a tough preparation.Ten of the Zimbabweans were playing their first Test, the exception being John Traicos who had played three Tests for South Africa in 1970, that country’s last series before their excommunication from international cricket. Traicos was making his debut now for Zimbabwe at 45 but he was still a skilful off spinner. He was the 14th player to have played for two different countries and indeed he created a world record in the longest interval between two appearances in Test history. Since his last appearance for South Africa against Australia at Port Elizabeth on March 10, 1970, Traicos was playing a Test againafter 22 years and 222 days.Batting first, Zimbabwe exceeded all expectations by batting more than two days in scoring 456 runs in their first innings, easily the highest score by a country on their Test debut. Skipper Dave Houghton emulated the feat of Australia’s Charles Bannerman in the first ever Test match in 1877 by scoring a century for a country playing their first Test match. Openers Kevin Arnott (40) and Grant Flower (82) put on exactly 100 runs. Valuable knocks followed from Alistair Campbell (45) and Andy Pycroft (39). And then came along Houghton to defy the Indian attack for almost seven hours in scoring 121. With wicketkeeperAndy Flower (59) he added 165 runs for the sixth wicket to prolong India’s agony. The Indians recovered some ground late in the innings when they captured the last five wickets for 39 runs but Houghton (414 minutes, 322 balls, 15 fours) had given Zimababwe a most encouraging start in Test cricket. The Indian bowling line up had it tough and Manoj Prabhakar, Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble took three wickets each but only after sending down 45, 39 and 35.2 overs respectively.Having been at the receiving end on the bowling front, the Indian batsmen now found themselves getting the rough end of the stick. Despite a strokefilled 43 by opener Woorkheri Raman, the Indians were in deep trouble on the morning of the fourth day having lost five wickets for 101 runs. It took the technical brilliance of Sanjay Manjrekar and the natural aggressive instincts of Kapil Dev to turn the innings around. The two added 96 runs for the sixth wicket before the all rounder was out for 60. But when the seventh wicket fell at219, India still required 38 runs to avoid the follow on. Manjrekar and Kiran More (41) saved India from this embarrassment by figuring in a partnership of 68 runs. No praise can be too high for Manjrekar who soldiered along for 529 minutes in scoring 104 before he was finally dismissed on the final morning. His hundred, which came up after 508 minutes, was the slowest by an Indian, but what a timely knock it proved to be! When he was dismissed, he had negotiated 422 balls and hit seven fours. The Indian innings finally terminated at 307. Traicos brought all his experience into play by bagging five for 86 off 50overs. In the remaining time, Zimbabwe scored 146 for four in their second innings and the Test ended in a quiet draw with Zimbabwe having the better of the honours.The game will also be remembered as the first Test to have three appointed umpires. A new sponsorship deal saw Dickie Bird fly out from England to stand in his 48th Test to equal the world record set by perhaps the most famous of all umpires Frank Chester. Bird stood throughout and the two Zimbabwean umpires K Kanjee and ID Robinson did duty on alternate days.Six years later, India paid another short visit to Zimbabwe. This time the tour consisted of three ODIs, a three day game and a Test match. And while the Indians were strong enough to win the ODI series 2-1 and take the three day game by an innings and 71 runs, they found Zimbabwe a different kettle of fish in the Test match and lost by 61 runs. Even granting the fact that Zimbabwe were an improved side since the Indians’ last visit, it was a surprise result.Put in to bat, Zimbabwe scored 221 with opener Gavin Rennie top scoring with 47. Srinath and Kumble took three wickets each. India, with Rahul Dravid getting 118, replied with 280. Henry Olonga finished with five for 70. The home team did better the second time around getting 293, building upon a first wicket stand of 138 runs between Rennie (84) and Craig Wishart (63). Kumble was the most successful bowler with four for 87 as Zimbabwe collapsed from 209 for one. With a target of 235 on a true wicket, India did seem to have things undercontrol. But undue haste by the batsmen in going for their strokes led to their downfall. Dravid top scored for a second time with 44 and Sourav Ganguly came up with 36. But this was not enough as the Indians were bowled out for 173 to give Zimbabwe only their second win in 31 Tests.

Ronnie Irani staked another claim for international recognition as Essexthreatened to humiliate Worcestershire in the Benson and Hedges Cup semi-final at Chelmsford. Irani hit a powerful 56 and claimed three wickets with late swing as the visitors crumbled chasing 263.Worcestershire ended the rain-affected day reeling on 26-4 from 12 overs. Play will resume tomorrow, with Gareth Batty and David Leatherdale facing an almost impossible task. Conquering Everest in shorts might be preferable to facing Irani and Ashley Cowan early tomorrow.It could – and perhaps should – have been very different. Irani gave thedressing-room a rueful look as Graeme Hick put the home side into bat. Play was delayed by four hours after persistant drizzle. Every available pundit thought the ball would boomerang, and was darkly talking of Essex trying to bat their overs out. Irani’s 56, as well as a mature 45 from Andy Flower, a stoic 46 from Darren Robinson and a rollicking 35 from Nasser Hussain, put Worcester on the back-foot.While Worcester’s bowlers struggled to keep their length, Essex had the ballon a string. The visitors struggled to find their way in front of an increasingly vociferous (and suitably inebriated) Chelmsford crowd. Irani, who had been swinging the ball away, angled one into Anurag Singh, who was adjudged leg before though the ball looked to be missing leg stump. Hick recorded Worcester’s second duck first ball, spooning a catch to Graham Napier in the gully.At the other end, Ashley Cowan was finding the sort of life which the look of the pitch promised. His first three overs were maidens. The fourth proved successful, Vikram Solanki plumb to an off-cutter. Irani moved one back intoBen Smith who could have no complaints for his leg before decision. For goodmeasure, Flower flicked the bails off – Smith would have been stumped as well.Kabir Ali was the only bowler who threatened for Worcestershire. The21-year-old, who is the most successful bowler in the country so far this year, bowled with a little nip, swinging the ball away from the right-hander. He deserved his four wickets, and his effort prevented Essex from turning a good total into an excellent one.Hussain was on the offensive immediately. Showing the form which brought him a century in the quarter-final, the England skipper took advantage of Alagmir Sheriyar’s awful opening spell. He hit four consecutive boundaries, two cover drives, one though point and a hook for six. Hussain went for 35, brilliantly caught by Singh above his head at mid-on.Napier and Robinson initially struggled to maintain the rate. After attempting some lusty blows, Napier was caught at long-on, while Robinson looked to bat steadily at one end.Andy Flower was underway with a straight-drive and a lazy flick over mid-wicket to the fence. He batted with the nonchalant assurance that his class allows. With Robinson run-out attempting a risky single, skipper Irani signalled his intentions, hitting over the top early. He hit three sixes, the first a baseball shot from a Stuart Lampitt full toss, as well as two over long-on. He was unperturbed by Flower’s departure, another mid-pitch mix-up. When Irani was stumped thanks to quick work by Steve Rhodes for 56, he had put Essex well on top. It was a bustling innings, a man in the form of his life oozing confidence.The Worcester bowling was poor. Allan Donald, who had arrived at HeathrowAirport in the early hours after attending Hansie Cronje’s funeral in SouthAfrica, was accurate without looking particularly threatening. Sheriyar – who also missed two chances – was awful, while Lampitt and Leatherdale at least kept some control. Thanks to Kabir, and some poor shot selection, Essex failed to make 300, which looked eminently possible when Irani and Flower were at the crease.Worcestershire have only lost one one-day match this season, the first gamein the Benson and Hedges Cup. Then they were dismissed for 70 byGloucestershire. Passing that ignominious total will be their first target inwhat will, surely be their last B&H match.

ScorecardJames Vince has had a good season in one-day cricket but finally passed fifty in the Championship in the last match•Getty Images

Given that Derbyshire appeared such a solid bet for promotion only a month or so ago, you cannot blame Karl Krikken, their coach, for taking steps to soften the blow should his embryonic team be knocked out of the top two places right at the death.Krikken insisted on the eve of the final round of matches that “to actually be here now with a chance of promotion is magnificent” and he is right to be proud that the club most frequently associated with the wooden spoon have set the pace for much of the Division Two season.Yet after winning only one match since the end of May, Derbyshire were always vulnerable to a late surge from one of the chasing pack and Kent, whose win over Derbyshire last week followed victory at Leicester a week earlier, have emerged with a threat to wreck their happy ending. It is now, it can be argued, that they need to dismiss the notion of remembering the season for a gallant near-miss and find a steely resolve.It will be needed, surely, on day two of this contest, which will resume with Derbyshire in trouble at 50 for 3 after a nervous 18 overs with the bat rather took the gloss off what had been a decent day’s work with the ball.Despite a partnership of 136 for the fifth wicket between James Vince (114) and Sean Ervine, Derbyshire restricted Hampshire to 272, claiming maximum bowling points in doing so. Given that the opening day at Cardiff did not go well for Kent, it may be that a draw for Derbyshire will be enough to clinch their elevation to Division One but even that will take some work to achieve. Hampshire, the Twenty20 champions and potential double-winners in white ball cricket, have underachieved in the four-day competition and that makes them a dangerous opponent.Indeed, they may consider that their opening-day performance here was not as satisfactory as it might have been. Well though they batted after Derbyshire, who won the toss, had opted to bowl first on a well-grassed pitch, both Vince and Ervine to some extent gave their wickets away. Ervine certainly did, attempting needlessly to reverse sweep David Wainwright, the left-arm spinner, and departing somewhat red-faced after he was bowled behind his legs.Vince had hit the ball handsomely at times, his confidence growing as did his boundary count, and given that he has had a lean season in the Championship, in and out of the side and without a half-century before this match, he deserved the congratulations that came his way. Yet the ball that did for him was a wide half-volley from Ross Whiteley that he slapped straight to extra-cover.Derbyshire had made the start they wanted. Tony Palladino, the former Essex seamer whose experience has been one of the counters to the youth that has been given its head under Krikken’s stewardship, delivered a fine spell with the new ball in which he did not concede a run until his fourth over and at one point had figures of 6.5-4-9-3 as Hampshire lost their first three wickets for 26.He bowled Michael Carberry off an inside edge, had Bilal Shafayat, pushing forward, caught at third slip and nipped one back to pin Liam Dawson leg-before as he played back. When Jimmy Adams, who has a technique good enough to earn a mention at least in connection with England’s top-order vacancy, fell for 20 as Whiteley found some late away swing and Usman Khawaja took a fine catch at second slip, Hampshire were 59 for 4 and Derbyshire had every reason to feel pleased with themselves.The Vince-Ervine partnership tempered their mood somewhat, but there was a comeback. After Vince had gone, Chris Wood flicked a ball from Tim Groenewald obligingly to square leg, Michael Bates edged Wes Durston, the offspinner, to slip, David Griffiths was caught behind driving at Wainwright, who then had James Tomlinson leg before first ball to end on a hat-trick as the last three Hampshire wickets fell in the space of ten deliveries.On a surface that had good carry and offered no significant help to the bowlers, 272 may have been a shade under par, which would have given Derbyshire every reason to be optimistic if they could see off the new ball without too much damage.In the event, the came up against a couple of bowlers in David Balcombe and Tomlinson who put them under immediate pressure and were duly rewarded. Wayne Madsen, trying to fend a ball from Tomlinson that climbed on him, gloved a catch to wicketkeeper Bates, while Paul Borrington edged one high off the bat to gully, where Carberry took a good catch diving forward. Durston then edged Wood tentatively to second slip. Much now depends on Khawaja.