1,925 runs, 71 wickets and 2,000 miles later Hampshire’s cricketers are back on the road in pursuit of the Friends Provident Trophy. Jane Cable charts the team’s progress so far in the competition.

19th April v Worcestershire Royals at The Rose Bowl

A gloriously sunny Sunday, but not the start Hampshire wanted in limited overs cricket in 2009. Moeen Ali was the first batsman to benefit from the excellent Rose Bowl pitches and took the game away from us with 125 off 109 balls, leaving Hampshire to chase 320, the second highest one day score at the ground. Despite John Crawley scoring a hundred of his own, we never seemed up to the challenge and lost by 53 runs.

26th April v Leicestershire Foxes at Grace Road

Our group was always going to be a tight one, and having lost to Worcester we really needed a win against Leicester, theoretically one of the weaker teams.  Hampshire’s bowlers, led by Liam Dawson (10-1-39-4), restricted the Foxes to 238 from their 50 overs. Despite losing early wickets, Chris Benham’s sensible 79 gave us a 4 wicket victory.

3rd May v Leicestershire Foxes at The Rose Bowl

The game when injury struck. Chris Tremlett and John Crawley were out before the match even started and Nic Pothas damaged a hamstring during his innings, which necessitated a quick phone call from the dressing room to Tom Burrows asking him to swap his dog lead for his wicket keeping gloves. Despite the injury Pothas scored 57*, but once again Benham was the star of the show with a beautifully paced 108*; not a single boundary in the first 50, then rapid acceleration thereafter. Hampshire won easily by 46 runs.

10th May v Ireland at a hotel somewhere in Londonderry

Waterlogged pitch; match abandoned without a ball being bowled. A potentially valuable point lost for Hampshire.

12th May v Nottinghamshire Outlaws at The Rose Bowl

Dimi Mascarenhas is back with the team and makes short work of the Outlaws’ openers. Notts are in tatters at 28 for 4 but Will Jefferson’s 93 restores the visitors’ pride. Dimi’s figures are 10-1-39-4 and Dominic Cork’s 9.1-0-13-3. Danny Briggs makes a creditable First XI debut and Hampshire win by 6 wickets to go top of the table. In the meantime Leicester manage to beat star team Worcestershire and the group begins to look a little more open.

14th May v Worcestershire Royals at New Road

Worcestershire were to prove to be our nemesis in this year’s Friends Provident Trophy and to date are the only team we have lost to. 246 looked a reasonable total for us to chase (Billy Taylor took 3 wickets for 37) but, despite a battling 42 from Benham, we fell 108 runs short. Best draw a veil over this one.

18th May v Ireland at The Rose Bowl

First floodlit match of the season at The Rose Bowl and one in which records were tumbling left, right and centre. Michael Carberry’s 121* was his first List A century and Sean Ervine’s 167* his highest score in professional cricket – and the biggest one day score for a Hampshire number 3 batsman. Inevitably the pair broke the team’s record for a third wicket partnership, and the total of 316 was Hampshire’s highest at The Rose Bowl in limited overs cricket. Ireland didn’t have a prayer and although they fought back hard (Kevin O’Brien scored 94) they lost by 77 runs.

20th May v Nottinghamshire Outlaws at Trent Bridge

Hampshire go into the game knowing that we need to beat Notts to come second in the group and qualify for an away draw in the quarter final. It is time to really deliver and the team does it in spades, bowling their hosts out for 145 with Dominic Cork taking his second consecutive 4 wicket haul in the competition, this time for a miserly 18 runs. Michael Lumb (72*) and Jimmy Adams (73*) knock off the total easily. While they are batting news filters through that Worcester have suffered a shock defeat to Ireland and both Notts and Hampshire are through to the next stage, the Hawks topping the group and securing an important home draw.

23rd May v Middlesex Panthers at The Rose Bowl

Quarter final day is a sunny bank holiday Saturday and given the short notice, the game draws a surprisingly large crowd. Middlesex captain Shaun Udal surprises us all by bowling the first over himself, but then it is down to business as the Hampshire openers get us off to a racing start. Lumb’s 100 off 98 balls is his first one day century at The Rose Bowl and a cause for particular celebration, but Adams’ 76 off 77 is equally important in securing the Hawks’ 44 run victory and passage to the semi final.

Hampshire Hawks now face Lancashire Lightning in the Friends Provident Trophy semi final to be played on Sunday 5th July at Old Trafford. Travelling support is most welcome, but the game will be televised by Sky and broadcast live on BBC Radio Solent.
 

Back to news

• Share
• Email
• Print