Royals Beaten Despite Vince Knock of 95

Match report from the Hampshire Royals' Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Somerset at The Ageas Bowl

Hampshire Royals v Somerset
Clydesdale Bank 40
Tuesday 14 August
The Ageas Bowl

Summary: Somerset beat Hampshire by 50 runs
Somerset: 228-8
Hampshire Royals: 178 (36 ovs)
Scorecard
Concurrent Table

Royals Team
Adams*, Vince, McKenzie, Katich, Ervine, Dawson, Wood, Riazuddin, Bates†, Briggs, Griffiths
Somerset Team
Trescothick*, Jones, Trego, Hildreth, Buttler†, Abdur Rehman, Suppiah, Barrow, Leach, Hussain, Kirby

A superb 95 from James Vince was not enough to prevent the Hampshire Royals from sliding to 50-run defeat against Somerset in their Clydesdale Bank 40 match at The Ageas Bowl.

Chasing 229 for victory, the opener batted for 36 overs but, having lost fifth-wicket partner Liam Dawson with the Royals 122-5, he couldn’t find a partner to stick with him long enough, the hosts eventually finishing all out for 178.

Earlier, an aggressive early knock from visiting opener Peter Trego (61 off 31 balls including nine fours and three sixes) was probably the difference between the two teams.

The result leaves The Royals still top of Group B - one point clear of second placed Surrey, who they face in the same competition at The Ageas Bowl on Sunday. Before then, however, they tackle Northamptonshire in the LV= County Championship, starting tomorrow.

 

Hampshire put their opponents into bat and almost immediately reaped early rewards as Chris Wood (2-33) picked up the vital wicket of dangerman Marcus Trescothick, caught by Jimmy Adams at cover for just two runs.

But Trego then launched a brutal assault on the Hampshire attack, combining with former Bashley Rydal player Chris Jones to hit 15 off one over, and, together, they looked to be taking the game away from the Royals before Trego’s onslaught was halted by a Wood catch off Danny Briggs (2-39) with the score at 80-1.

Jones (23) looked, temporarily, like he would take up the role of aggressor, hitting a big six off Briggs before David Griffiths (1-47) rearranged his stumps. Shaken but not stirred, James Hildreth (16) and Jos Buttler were now just content to keep the score ticking over but they hadn’t banked on the power of Sean Ervine (3-35).

The all-rounder’s first three overs saw him take two wickets for just five runs, including two maidens (one a wicket maiden). The Royals were starting to apply some pressure and boundaries were few and far between before Buttler (51) launched into an offensive hitting successive boundaries off Ervine [pictured below] and then bringing up his 50 with a thin edge which ran away for another four.

England’s young wicketkeeper looked well set to guide his side to a big score before mistiming one of many reverse sweeps, giving Adams his second catch of the day. More wickets followed as the run rate tumbled before Gemaal Hussain (18) hit successive boundaries as 23 off the final over set Hampshire target that seemed possibly 20 too many.

The Royals' reply got off to a tricky start when they lost three wickets within the first five overs; Trego, once again, chief tormentor. Vince then set about rebuilding the innings with an aggressive style which produced a flurry of boundaries.

At the other end Ervine (7) was given a life when on just four, after a mix up between fielders resulted in a dropped catch. He couldn’t cash in on his good fortune, however, and was on his way after chopping on from Steve Kirby.

Dawson (36) provided some much needed stability for Vince, who reached his fifty off just 39 balls, as the pair put on 73 before Dawson picked out a man in the deep with an aerial sweep. Michael Bates joined Vince and with ten over’s remaining the pair had batted their side into contention requiring 69 off 60 to win.

However ten balls later both Bates (16) and Wood were back in the pavilion leaving Vince to carry Hampshire’s hopes. But the wickets continued to fall and Vince was last man out as defeat was confirmed.

Words: Greg Styles
Images: LMI Photography (Vince) /
NJM Photography (Ervine)

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