Down the memory lane: A Test match which saw both the sides declaring at 0
Test match cricket is all about mental determination and to win a test match captains often employ numerous strategies. But both the sides declaring at score 0 to get a result is unheard of.
However, there was one such incidence when in a second division County Championship game played between Gloucestershire and Hampshire in 2013 saw both the sides declaring an innings each without even coming out to bat.
The game began with Hampshire winning the toss and electing to bowl first. With the first day abandoned due to rain, play resumed on the second day with Gloucestershire losing their skipper Michael Klinger early on. Klinger was dismissed for 4 runs by Sohail Tanvir who also sent the other opener Chris Dent back to the pavilion.
Dent was dismissed after scoring a fighting 35 off 100 balls with wickets falling at the other end. However, the experienced Kiwi batsman, Hamish Marshall steadied the ship for Gloucestershire as he scored 114 runs off 184 balls.
Gloucestershire added more runs through lower order contributions from Howell, Gidman, and Roderick. Roderick remained unbeaten on 45 as Gloucestershire declared at the score of 410 for 9. Mascarenhas was the pick of the bowlers for Hampshire as he picked up 4 wickets. Sohail Tanvir and Balcombe picked up 2 wickets each whereas Ervine picked up one.
With the play being delayed earlier on due to rain and both the sides in an imperative need to win, the Hampshire skipper Jimmy Adams declared their 1st innings even before his team came out to bat and the same was done by the Gloucestershire skipper Klinger in their second innings.
Hampshire ultimately needed to chase down the target of 411 with 169 overs to play. Hampshire came out to bat and lost their skipper for a duck with the scoreboard reading 0 for 1. Carberry and Dawson steadied the ship and put up a 63 run partnership for the 2nd wicket, however, Dawson was dismissed for 27 by Fuller.
The Gloucestershire bowlers looked menacing as they had complete control of the game. Hampshire was soon reduced to 6 for 88 with the Hampshire batsmen having no reply to Gidman. Lower order contributions kept Hampshire in the game but ultimately Hampshire fell short as Gloucestershire won by 198 runs.