Hampshire suffer rain frustration against Middlesex
By Connor Steel
HAMPSHIRE HAWKS suffered huge frustrations as their important home encounter versus Middlesex was abandoned on Friday night; the Vitality Blast match ending in the seventeenth over following niggly rain showers at the Utilita Bowl to continue a difficult week that could affect the team’s chances of reaching the ‘quarter final’ stages of this competition.
It was Hampshire’s second successive game to be abandoned due to bad weather in twenty-four hours; their away trip to Glamorgan finishing as a no result without a ball being bowled on Thursday. Combined with a loss against Somerset last weekend it means the Hawks have slipped to fifth position in the South Group as they approach this half way point.
But the hosts dominated the seventy possible minutes of action as they reduced the visitors to 113-8 from their innings; John Turner and James Fuller both taking two dismissals. Chris Wood, James Fuller, Benny Howell and Michael Neser all took a wicket; whilst Joe Cracknell (24), Max Holden (23) and Ryan Higgins (27) added the bulk of Middlesex’s runs.
Proceedings were stopped at approximately 8:10pm due to a short shower that swept across the stadium and play was due to restart at 9pm with both teams due to face eighteen overs. But despite some brilliant work from the groundsmen another ‘sharp rain shower’ delayed the resumption and the umpires concluded any hope of a result shortly afterwards.
The Hawks now face a six day rest before they play Essex Eagles in Chelmsford next Thursday before hosting Sussex Sharks on Friday night as part of a designated ‘Rivals Week’ encounter. Their Twenty-20 campign will then take a back seat as two big County Championship fixtures are due to take place at the end of June against Warwickshire and Kent.
PICTURED BY HAMPSHIRE HAWKS: Frustrating scenes at the Utilita Bowl as floodlights beam upon large rain cover.