Gästebereich » to contention.Playing the brutal back nine in seven

Hampshire 213 for 3 (Alsop 117*) trail Surrey 329 (Burns 101, Wheal 4-100) by 116 runs ScorecardIf Hampshire do go down, which they so easily could have done last year and have looked like doing for most of this one, all is not lost. Unlike various sides around them, their direction of travel in Division One - even if it turns out to be too little, too late - is upward; at times in mid-season, they looked one of the weaker sides in recent top-flight memory, a collection of waifs and strays. Now, they look a team with plenty to be optimistic about.Chief among the causes for optimism is 20-year-old Tom Alsop, an organised and stylish batsman, who scored a magnificent maiden first-class century to keep their hopes of survival alive. Hampshire have won twice this season, both against Nottinghamshire; in the first, at the Ageas Bowl, Alsop made his first Championship 50 to anchor the first innings, while at Trent Bridge in August, he made his previous highest score, 93. This innings gives them a mighty fine chance of claiming a third, season-saving win.Conditions for batting - much of the day was baked in sun, and the typically Ovalish pitch seemed to flatten as the ball came on nicely - were much improved. On day one, Surreys eventual 329, topped off before lunch by a roistering unbeaten 41 from Gareth Batty, looked a very fine score. But by the close of the second, Alsop had run Surrey - who largely bowled extremely well - ragged; not only was he dropped twice - at second slip on 72, and at square-leg on 91 - but he was the beneficiary of four overthrows late in the day, too.Alsop came to the crease in trying circumstances, as Tom Curran bowled a magical spell after lunch, beating Jimmy Adams outside edge - from over and round the wicket - numerous times, before finally finding it. Alsop was himself beaten, but soon settled, cleanly cutting Mark Footitt twice through backward point. Anything on his legs was flicked from fine-leg to wide mid-on, while his driving was crisp and precise - all the way from point to down the ground, off front and back foot - too. He raced to 55 in 60 balls, but then as Hampshire lost Will Smith - with whom Alsop shared 92 before Smith edged Footitt behind - then James Vince, he did not score for 40 balls. It was a case of getting through, he said. It requires patience, and Im not always the most patient person so Im pretty pleased to get there.Having done just that, he put on a counter-attacking unbroken stand of 88, from another unsteady position, with Sean Ervine, who plopped Batty into the Pavilion for six. With the weather set fair again, they have the chance to go big on on Thursday.Tom Curran made it very difficult, nipping it away from the lefties, he said, then you have Meaker and Footitt bowling 90 clicks, its pretty difficult whatever the track is. You play some teams and you think you can get through this spell and have a look at the others, but then they bring those two on. Theres no real break.Both in personality and skill (he is also an excellent short leg), it is perfectly clear why Hampshire - who in Mason Crane, Joe Weatherley and the Brads, Taylor and Wheal, have plenty of other talented youngsters - and England rate Alsop so highly. On the back of his maiden List A century, also against Surrey, he jumped the queue to receive a Lions call-up in July and it was hard to believe, watching this innings, at such a vital juncture in his teams season, that it was his first Championship ton.I got close a few weeks back, Alsop said, and you do wonder if youll get another chance, especially with just a few games left this season. I took it ball by ball and am completely over the moon. I really wanted this, and its happened. They say the first ones the hardest and its definitely felt that way.Vinces was an altogether briefer, more confused innings. Few truly believe we have seen the last of him as a Test cricketer; he is, after all, a batsman of immense talent and an impressive character - indeed the youngest current county captain.But before he is to return he must stop edging full, wide deliveries. It is that simple. By all accounts, the great strength of the century that so dazzled James Whittaker - and got him selected for seven Tests this summer despite modest numbers - at Headingley in April was his abstinence, at least until fully settled, from his seductive cover drive.This looked the perfect opportunity for another day of chastity but, having edged short of first slip already, he was roughed up by some short stuff and could not resist the big drive. Ben Foakes, stood a touch wide as if anticipating the gimme, did the rest. It was a mightily slow, almost disbelieving trudge off. Shoes Ireland On Sale . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. Discount Shoes Ireland . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. https://www.shoesirelandsale.com/ . They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display. Shoes Ireland Free Shipping .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Shoes Ireland From China . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Jason Day defended golfs big four after their forecast heavyweight showdown failed to materialise at Royal Troon.All the hype before the 145th British Open centred on Days bid to keep Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy at bay as the superstar quartet jostled for the famous Claret Jug and golfs top ranking.Instead veterans Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson have stolen the show with a swag of less-heralded Americans and Europeans playing supporting roles.But Day believes any criticism of the Gen-Y dominators is unfair, citing an unfavourable draw for golfs top four players at Troon.Australias world No.1 even has the numbers to back it up.Every player in the top 10 at the Opens halfway point enjoyed the best of the conditions on Thursday morning and Friday afternoon, while Day, Johnson, Spieth and McIlroy were left to deal with the elements, including a 55kph squall that swept through the links course late in the second round.While Day struggled to a two-over-par 73 in tough early going on Thursday, Mickelson made hay in the afternoon with a major championship record-equalling 63 while third-round leader Stenson opened with 68 and 65.The pair have engaged in a two-man shootout ever since.Day said it was no great coincidence he and his big-name rivals were battling to keep pace.Rory, Jordan and myself are in the other wave, so that has a lot to do with it, Day said after his even-par 71 on Saturday.I think the best score out of our wave was two under with Patrick Reed and Rory, and obviously the (other) wave has played great golf and thats why theyre at the top of the leaderboard.ddddddddddddSo theres obviously a little bit of luck that is involved with getting to the top as well as playing good golf.But, once again, you get what you take and unfortunately thats just the way it is.Youve just got to try and get yourself into contention.Playing the brutal back nine in seven over has cost Day, but hes not the only one to have suffered.A triple-bogey on the railway hole, the punishing 11th, dashed Johnsons hopes on Saturday after the US Open champion surged to five under and within sight of the leaders.He finished at one under after his round of 72 included 39 on the back nine.McIlroy ended the third round with only 13 clubs after smashing his three wood in disgust on the 16th as the 2014 champion slumped to even for the tournament with a 73.And like Day, Spieth picked up four shots going out before giving them all back coming home to be five over and out following his third-round 72.The American then lashed reporters for expecting too much.Spieth said it seems hes become a victim of his own success after arriving at St Andrews last year with the chance to become the first player since 1953 to win golfs first three majors of the year and finishing one shot shy of a playoff.It seems a bit unfair at 22 to be expecting something like that all the time, Spieth said. 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