Nic Pothas Granted Benefit Year

Hampshire wicketkeeper-batsman and vice-captain, Nic Pothas has been granted a benefit year for the 2011 season.

Hampshire wicketkeeper-batsman and vice-captain, Nic Pothas has been granted a benefit year for the 2011 season.

“Skeg” has been at the club since 2002, winning three trophies and playing in two Finals for the club.

He said; “It’s a great privilege and an honour to be awarded a benefit year for 2011 by the members and supporters at Hampshire Cricket. I would like to thank them for this wonderful opportunity for which I am most grateful.

“Along with them, I would like to thank my fellow players and all the staff at the Rose Bowl for their unwavering support throughout my career at Hampshire thus far.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Rod Bransgrove for affording me the chance to play at this awesome club and for all his help and support since my arrival.

“I consider myself very fortunate to be in this position and look forward to a successful 2011 both on and off the field.”

Pothas started his career at South African side, Transvaal in 1993 and played for the national side in a One Day International series against Pakistan in 2000.

Since coming to Hampshire he has registered the highest batting average of any wicket-keeper in the club’s history and still holds the wicketkeeping record for the highest number of dismissals by any Hampshire player in an innings when he saw off seven Lancashire batsmen at Old Trafford in 2007.

He also shares a record with Andy Bichel for the highest ever recorded 8th wicket partnership for Hampshire when they put on 257 against Gloucestershire at Bristol in 2005.

His career achievements include scoring 68 runs to help Hampshire win the Cheltenham and Gloucestershire Trophy in 2005. He also combined with Chris Benham to put on a 67 run partnership which saw Hampshire over the line against Sussex in the final of the Friends Provident Trophy in 2009 (Pothas’ own contribution being a brisk 35 runs from 31 balls, including a huge six in to the Lord’s Tavern Stand.)

"Skeg" at his best - a terrific diving catch earlier in the season

In the absence of Dimitri Mascarenhas through injury, Pothas captained the Hampshire Royals on their way to winning the Friends Provident twenty20 Final this season before he, himself, was injured and forced to miss the final part of the campaign.  In all – even excluding t20 – Nic Pothas has been responsible for more than 10,000 competitive runs and more than 500 competitive dismissals in his Hampshire career.

Hampshire manager Giles White added; “Nic has been the consummate professional for many years now at Hampshire and I’m very pleased that he will be honoured for that next season.

“His attitude and commitment have been a vital ingredient in many of our successes over recent seasons and hopefully he’ll have a few more good seasons – and a few more successes – to go.”

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