Date-stamped : 05 Jul95 - 10:25 Stephenson succeeds with application BY NEIL HALLAM AT DERBY First day of four: Derby (14-0) trail Hants (284) by 270 runs COACHLOADS of autograph book-wielding children arriving at the County Ground on school trips were dejected to learn that England`s new hero, Dominic Cork, was not in the Derbyshire side and not much consoled, one suspects, by the opportunity to watch John Stephenson`s worthy, four-hour 93 underpin Hampshire`s 284 in 100 overs. Cork, it was reported initially by physiotherapist Ann Brentnall, had been "rested", an explanation which doubtless had the more cynical supporters wondering whether a debilitating syndrome which has down the years prostrated a number of England fast bowlers between Tests had struck again. "Weighed down by fame already," observed one member. But no. Cork had "a shoulder problem", his captain Kim Barnett revealed. "And a bit of a cold. And he`s a bit sore as though he`s sickening for something. And he`s a bit drained anyway after the week he`s had, what with all the media attention and so on." Notwithstanding this comprehensive list of ailments, Barnett added: "He actually wanted to play and I wanted him to play but after we`d had a chat with the physio we decided to err on the side of caution. "He`s bowled a lot of overs this season [one ball under 400 in all cricket actually] and there`s no point in taking chances and playing him when he`s not 100 per cent. He`ll be OK for the Sunday League this weekend." Cork added: "I`m more sore than injured and I have started with a cold. I wanted to play because I hate missing games but it was common sense to sit this one out." The drama of his seven for 43 to plunge the West Indies to defeat at Lord`s certainly seemed a world away from yesterday`s drowsy scene as Hampshire overcame an unpromising start to make sedate progress against persevering bowling. Paul Terry fell in the third over, well held off bat and bad, and the value of Stephenson`s application was underlined as Paul Whitaker wafted unwisely at a wide ball down the leg side. Robin Smith was bowled behind his legs but Mark Nicholas stiffened the middle order before he, too, lunged fatally to leg and Giles White was palpably lbw as Phillip DeFreitas adhered to a testing line and length. Stephenson`s vigil, which occupied 212 balls and yielded a six, 14 fours and his best score so far for Hampshire, ended when Devon Malcolm pounded some extra bounce out of the pitch but Adrian Aymes ensured that a sweltering day ended with honours even. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Derbyshire's initiative BY NEIL HALLAM AT DERBY Second day of four: Hampshire (284 & 69-3) lead Derbyshire (295) by 58 runs A HITHERTO evenly balanced contest tilted slightly Derbyshire's way when, notwithstanding a championship-best six for 38 from left-arm seamer Kevan James, they eked out a first-innings lead of 15 before nipping out three Hampshire wickets for 17 in nine overs. Robin Smith and Mark Nicholas restored Hampshire to 69 for three, but with increasingly humid conditions likely to promote swing much may depend on this pair if they are to set Derbyshire a demanding target. Derbyshire's batsmen had failed to build on solid foundations. Chris Adams made a bold half century and Wayne Dessaur a diligent one as they reached 113 for one, but James found movment from a full length to undermine the middle order and claim his best figures since his career-best first-class return of six for 22 against the Australians in 1985. Kim Barnett's third consecutive championship half-century took Derbyshire into profit before James ensured Hampshire's record of claiming maximum bowling points in every game this season was maintained. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Derbyshire deliver while Cork relaxes BY SCYLD BERRY AT DERBY Third day of four: Derbyshire (295 & 157-4) bt Hampshire (284 & 167) by six wkts IT MADE a thoughtful welcome-home present for Dominic Cork. Derbyshire, after a succession of ignominies, won their second championship match of the season when they defeated Hampshire by six o'clock and as many wickets. Cork himself was not playing. He was resting from this game, as perhaps he should have done on Tuesday, instead of breaking off from England's celebrations to drive to March to bowl five overs against a minor county, just as Angus Fraser had to go to Cornwall to do. What incentive is there for England's players to win Tests if they are not allowed to enjoy the moment with cameraderie and champagne, to celebrate as they should? Yesterday Cork's bowling was not missed because Devon Malcolm looked quick and healthy, Phillip DeFreitas lively, and Colin Wells chipped in with his best bowling figures for Derbyshire. Hampshire lost a wicket - the fourth of their second innings - to the first ball of the day, when Mark Nicholas was given out to a debated decision, and thereafter they seemed all too aware that their winning run was going to end. Robin Smith, whose batteries must also have been low after Lord's, was missed to second slip's right, square-driving at Malcolm, moments before he was caught behind mis-steering a short outswinger. The pitch was pallid, the bounce a little uneven, but nothing more controversial than that. Every hit attempted at Wells went in the air to hand. Derbyshire were set no more than 156 to end the drought that has persisted since their opening game Giles White, beginning to look the part, kept Hampshire going until lunch, but by then, only Cardigan Connor remained to partner him, and White was out hooking shortly after the interval. Derbyshire were set no more than 156 to end the drought that has persisted since their opening game against Sussex - time enough, though, for some interesting developments. Adrian Rollins is built like David Lawrence, and drives a ball as hard, but he can do it off either foot and has a defence as well. He and Wayne Dessaur took Derbyshire to 82 from 22 overs, before Rollins inside-edged his middle stump out. Then three wickets fell without scoring - and, in the case of the boat-rocking Chris Adams, without much carefulness either. Adams, like Lara, has no apparent appetite for grinding it out if deprived of fours. He crashed to cover a ball not quite there for driving, Dessaur edged via second slip to keeper, and Wells padded up to his first ball. Daryll Cullinan and Kim Barnett had perforce to put their heads down. Cork attended for the first hour, saw Hampshire subsiding, then left at noon for the city hospital, not for treatment on his right shoulder - he is fit for the Sunday league match today - but to promote Derbyshire at a stall set up for the hospital's fete. If he saw any patients on their beds, he probably told them to get up and walk. It is Cork's indomitable faith in himself which is his conspicuous virtue, along with his outswinger. Reg Taylor, his county's chief executive, recalled yesterday how Cork opened the batting against Northamptonshire last season, took on Curtly Ambrose and hooked his bouncer. A pace bowler who himself fancies pace bowling is an exception. In the England dressing-room before the second Test, Cork's proud pronouncement might have sounded hackneyed had it not been so deeply sincere. He kissed the England badge on his helmet and said: "They can't take it away from me." Seven wickets in an innings on debut, however, like a century on Test debut, is no guarantee of a substantial future. Alec Bedser alone of England bowlers has gone on from such a start. Counting against Cork is his stressful action, which is 'split': he had two knee operations last year alone. As in the case of Darren Gough, his back foot is parallel to the crease in delivery, his front foot at right angles to it, a combination not recommended by doctors for knee and spine. But he has his combative attitude, which should have got him on the plane to Australia last winter ahead of more jaded performers; and he has his outswinger which 'goes' like no other England bowler has regularly made it do since Ian Botham's back went in April 1980. Like Gough, Cork will surely be effective in Test cricket. Thanks :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)