Hampshire’s Royal London Cup campaign began at the start of August as Worcestershire Rapids made the trip down to The Ageas Bowl.
Due to The Hundred being on at the same time as the 50-over tournament many younger players from the Academy and Second XI sides were given a chance to shine for the First XI which was captained by Nick Gubbins.
In their first innings with the bat, Fletcha Middleton, Ben Brown and Scott Currie all made scores in the forties as they were bowled out for 236.
In response, the bowling attack showed their potential. Only two Worcestershire batters made it out of single figure scores with Currie, Ian Holland, John Turner and Felix Organ sharing the wickets to restrict the visitors to 192 and secure a 44-run win.
It was a good start and it got even better in the second game when the youthful side travelled to Beckenham to play Kent Spitfires.
Skipper Nick Gubbins made a superb 117 but was still somehow outshone by the promising Tom Prest. The 19-year-old struck a career high 181, with 14 fours and seven maximums, as Hampshire reached 396 from their innings.
They were just as impressive with the ball in hand wiping the Spitfires’ line-up out in the 40th over. Jack Campbell was the pick of the bowlers taking four wickets for just 44 runs.
The next match saw Hampshire return to Newclose on the Isle of Wight for their first match on the island since 2019.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks were the opponents and they seemed to have a hold of the match when they bowled Hampshire out for 199 – despite a Prest half century.
With the Steelbacks at 177/5, the game seemed to be gone, until Currie took the important wicket of Rob Keogh on 74. Hampshire sprung to life taking the remaining five wickets for just 10 runs with Campbell taking three more in the most dramatic of finishes.
However, the excitement did not stop there for Gubbins and his side. After Derbyshire had made 246/9 from their innings in the next match and top order struggling it was time for another young player to step up.
Toby Albert came in at seventh in the order and made a fantastic 84 to rescue Hampshire’s innings. Along with help from Middleton’s 64, Albert ensured his side made it to the target of 247 in the penultimate over with two wickets to spare.
A home match against Lancashire followed and the youngsters proving their worth once again. Turner took a maiden List A five-wicket haul, with Currie and Campbell sharing the remaining five, to bowl a strong Lancashire team out for 183.
In similar circumstance to the Derbyshire game though, Hampshire’s top order failed to capitalise and it was once again down to the brilliance of Albert. He made 65 this time and remained not out again to see his side over the line for the second match in a row.
The match was also memorable for 16-year-old Dom Kelly who made his debut, bowling six overs before scoring 17 with the bat.
Next was a trip to Neath to take on current champions Glamorgan. Gubbins made 93 and Holland also made a half century on his return from international duty with USA.
However, even after an early wicket, a 203-run partnership between Tom Bevan and Colin Ingram saw Glamorgan take away the victory.
Essex Eagles then visited The Ageas Bowl for Hampshire final home game of the groups.
From their 50 overs, the Eagles made 257/8 with five different wicket takers for the home side.
Prest then made another half-century as his 76 set Hampshire up to reach 260 and take victory by three wickets.
They then travelled up to Scarborough for the final group stage match, knowing a win would see them top their group and advance straight through to a home semi-final.
Ben Brown made his first half-century, as well as another from Prest, but Donald stole the show. He hit 76 from just 31 balls, including six sixes, to guide Hampshire to a total of 313.
Yorkshire Vikings attempted to make a game of it but wickets began to fall early and they found themselves all out for 241. Turner made a second five-for of the competition with figures of 5-41.
That set up a home semi-final against Kent Spitfires, the winner of which would advance to the Royal London Cup final at Trent Bridge.
Gubbins, Donald and Organ all made scores over fifty with 310 looking like a solid total for Hampshire to defend.
However, the strength of the Spitfires line-up saw them through with Ollie Robinson making 95 and the 46-year-old Darren Stevens scoring 84 from 65 deliveries.
Hampshire had fallen short at the semi-final stage but their youthful side proved how talented they are and how much promise there is for the future at the Club.
The best way to see the Hampshire squad in action in 2023 is with a Hampshire Cricket Membership.
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