Cork’s blow takes Hampshire to victory
By Gemma Wright
Hampshire clinched the Friends Provident t20 in the most thrilling fashion, with an injured Daniel Christian scampering a single from the final ball to seal victory.
Hampshire looked to be coasting to victory, until nerves gripped both sides in the dying overs. Sean Ervine was dropped at deep square leg by 12th man Nick Crompton but, two balls later, Craig Kieswetter held on to a top edge from the bat of Michael Carberry, and Somerset looked to be right back in the game.
Running two from the penultimate ball, Christian pulled a hamstring, and with just one run needed to draw the game and win on wickets, a runner was called for. Jimmy Adams came on, causing yet more delay whilst white lines were painted on the outfield to indicate his popping crease. The tension at breaking point, Zander De Bruyn came in to bowl the final ball of this game, and confusion reigned once again. The Somerset players went up for a valid lbw shout – not given - and both the batsman and the runner went for the single. The Hampshire team stormed the pitch to celebrate, they became the first County to win the competition as hosts.
Hampshire started the day as underdogs. It’s remarkable given the injury woes at the club that this young side found their way to the winner’s podium. With five international players out - Mascherenas, Pothas, Kabir Ali, Simon Jones and Lumb - and England star KP refused a game, the remaining seniors – Mackenzie, Ervine and Cork – along with the younger trio of Woods, Bates and Vince held their nerve to take the trophy.
It hadn’t all gone Hampshire’s way. Somerset, anchored by 71 from Kieswetter, were heading towards an imposing total. After taking 20 from the penultimate over from the youngster Woods, it was up to Dominic Cork to do something to swing momentum Hampshire’s way. He did it, in the most unlikely fashion, bowling a bouncer that found its way into the grille of Kieran Pollard, flooring the batsman and causing his right eye to swell shut. Cork could hardly have done more than to take out the superb fielding and four overs of bowling that would have come from Pollard. A wicket and just three runs came from that over and momentum was fully with Hampshire as they came out to chase the 174 to win.
In the semi-finals, the performance of the afternoon came from Somerset youngster Jos Buttler. Just 19 years old, his unbeaten 55 from 23 balls accelerated Somerset to 182 from their 20 overs and bagged him the man of the match award. Kieran Pollard provided useful runs at the end of the innings, but his performance in the field made the real difference between the teams. After heavy rain reduced Notts’ target to 152 from 16 overs, they kept close to the required par score throughout, Samit Patel in fluent form before Pollard took a superb catch on the boundary well above his head to dismiss the danger man. That timely wicket came shortly before another heavy downpour sent the players from the field, and within ten minutes the game was awarded to Somerset, who were ahead on D/L thanks to that last wicket. It was a sorry way to end what was promising to be a much more interesting semi-final than the first game, and a cruel exit from the competition for Notts.
