Glamorgan fall short in rain affected Hawks chase
By Connor Steel
HAMPSHIRE HAWKS put themselves in “prime position” for a Vitality Blast quarter final place as they hosted Glamorgan on Friday evening; beating the Welsh county by twenty one runs on the Duckworth Lewis method (DLS) after persistent drizzle and wet conditions ruined any prospects for a 20-over game at the Ageas Bowl.
The hosts started brightly despite batting first under gloomy skies with James Vince blasting a boundary from the first legal delivery; Ben McDermott hitting a big maximum as Hampshire reached 32-0 in three overs. But a wicket soon fell as Jamie McIlroy forced a poor drive from Vince (16) which looped to a fielder at silly-point.
McDermott however appeared to seize momentum as he took control of the scoring alongside Tom Prest in a supportive role; the opener helping his team past fifty and beyond in the powerplay. He further reached a half century of his own before losing a second batting partner; Prest (9) pinned LBW by Peter Hatzoglou’s yorker.
This made the score 84-2 in the eighth over with McDermott and Joe Weatherley scoring thirteen runs before drizzly rain surrounded the Ageas Bowl, forcing the players off at 7:40pm. And play was not allowed to restart until 9:55pm with Glamorgan chasing a tweaked target of 83 from six overs; including a powerplay of 8 balls.
Colin Ingram was promoted up the batting order in response and made a brilliant start to Glamorgan’s chase; hitting one maximum and two boundaries in an opening over that yielded nineteen runs. But John Turner did keep this scoring down throughout the second over with just 2 runs conceded either side of straight dot balls.
Nathan Ellis and Benny Howell continued to limit away scoring despite the efforts of Ingram; who hit another six to move his score to 34 off 13 balls. But the opener’s fun was ended in the fifth over as he offered a catch for Vince who made no mistake to leave the visitors 42-1; Glamorgan adding just another twelve before rain.
The umpires abandoned this match shortly afterwards with Glamorgan falling short in another ‘revised target’ of 76 runs due to three balls not being bowled; Hampshire gaining the win and points. Rivals Essex and Kent also lost games on Friday, meaning that the Hawks will qualify bar a big loss versus Gloucestershire (02/07).
PICTURED BY HAMPSHIRE CRICKET: Tom Prest and Ben McDermott meet at the crease under a watchful eye of Glamorgan wicketkeeper; the hosts beating their Welsh opponents on DLS method in rain affected tie.
