Cricket: Derbyshire Survive Warne Scare

Shane Warne flies into the unknown perils of Zimbabwe today having transformed the not inconsiderable problems at Hampshire in three weeks.

He almost led the county to their sixth victory in as many matches here yesterday but Derbyshire's last pair of Mohammad Ali and Nick Walker survived the last 14 deliveries of the match surrounded by 10 fielders.

"I feel very disappointed not to win," Warne said last night. "We created something from nothing while Derbyshire were not trying to play to win. They were trying to hang on for a draw."

There had been some niggle throughout the match. Hampshire were disappointed when Derbyshire did not declare once they reached 300. But Derbyshire had been mildly miffed when Hampshire did not stop once they had 400 in their first innings.

Warne had originally planned to set Derbyshire about 250 in 65 overs. He felt a bit put out and set them 274 from a minimum of 53 but his delay backfired on him.

Dmitri Mascarenhas ran through Derbyshire's top order to finish with career-best figures of six for 25. But at 80 for five Derbyshire appeared safe.

It was then that the freak dismissal of Luke Sutton gave Hampshire fresh heart. Sutton struck a delivery from Mascarenhas on to the boot of Michael Brown at short-leg and it rebounded to Lawrence Prittipaul at backward square-leg.

Then Chris Tremlett clean bowled Graeme Welch after trapping Chris Bassano lbw, and with Ant Botha the ninth man out at 101 Hampshire must have felt they were home.

The most entertaining piece of cricket came in the morning, when Derbyshire resumed on 279 for eight. Ali was out to the third ball of the day, an ugly pull to midwicket.

This brought the 19-year-old Walker to the crease. It was his third championship match but his debut innings in the first-class game. He promptly sauntered down the pitch to Warne and lifted him for a straight six.

He cut Warne's next ball for three on his way to an unbeaten 31 from 22 deliveries. Warne was so rattled that he bowled a bouncer which flew past his startled wicketkeeper Nic Pothas for four byes.

When the experienced Botha was bowled by Shaun Udal, Walker complained to him that he had sold his wicket cheaply.

Hampshire had secured a lead of 95 by bowling out Derbyshire for 324 and then they struck a vigorous 178 for six, with Michael Clarke leading the way with six fours and two sixes, one over cover, in a 32-ball unbeaten 45 before the declaration.