Hawks complete final ball win over Gloucestershire
By Connor Steel
HAMPSHIRE HAWKS did enough to keep alive their fading hopes of progressing to the Vitality Blast quarter final stage as they hosted Gloucestershire on Friday night; eventually completing their five wicket victory after this ‘topsy-turfy’ and highly enjoyable encounter that was ultimately decided in the last delivery in front of a packed crowd at the Utilita Bowl.
The visitors began well as Miles Hammond and Cameron Bancroft survived a couple of tricky opening spells to end the batting powerplay on 49-0; both batters hitting some fine boundaries versus some good bowling. This duo continued as they passed the halfway point of the innings to reach 92-0 before the first wicket; Bancroft (34) falling off Benny Howell.
Hammond celebrated his fifty as he survived a couple of drops in a thirty-three run partnership with Beau Webster that lasted to the 15th over; the former becoming Howell’s second victim for sixty-six runs on 125-2. Webster (16) was then dismissed by Dawson and Jack Taylor (2) followed as he edged John Turner’s ball; whilst Ben Charlesworth hit 2 fours.
This batting ‘collapse’ continued as they lost another four wickets within twelve balls against the bowling of Brad Wheal and Turner; Ollie Price, James Bracey, Matt Taylor and Marchant de Lange succumbing by the 19th over. Charlesworth did offer some resistance as he blasted three sixes in his 39; but fell slogging the last ball to end their innings on 176-9.
In response Ben McDermott hit a big straight maximum and a four as he partnered alongside James Vince; the captain hitting three brilliantly placed boundaries off eighteen balls in a lightening start for Hampshire. They almost survived the powerplay period but Vince tried to play a pull shot off Matt Taylor’s delivery but was caught on 21 runs to make it 49-1.
This began the tightening of the Hawks’ declining run rate and it led to their second wicket as Tom Smith removed Tom Prest (3) with a good in-swinging delivery; the bowler further dismissing McDermott (32). A fourth wicket followed as de Lange took the ‘scalp’ of Toby Albert in the twelve over; leaving the hosts on 76-4 and needing a total of 101 for victory.
However an explosion from Howell switched this ‘momentum’ as he added two successive sixes in an over that yielded twenty-two; the batsman extending his assault with more boundaries either side of Joe Weatherley’s wicket for 22 runs. James Fuller added 20 unbeaten runs in nine balls as Howell finished 0n 62* including the winning shot off the last ball.
Victory for Hampshire means that they have risen to sixth place in the South Group after eleven matches; but will likely need to win their next three games and hope that fellow results go their way if they are going to reach the final eight. A home match against Somerset awaits on Sunday afternoon, before ties against Surrey and Essex conclude this round.
PICTURED BY HAMPSHIRE HAWKS: James Fuller and Benny Howell celebrate this final ball victory in front of crowd.
