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Dimi Mascarenhas was the captain, but Nic Pothas deputised for him until mid-June as he was playing in the IPL. Dominic Cork joined Hampshire from Lancashire and took 4-10 and 2-27 on debut in an opening match victory. Marcus North was the first overseas player to arrive and scored 15 on the first day v Warwickshire whereupon Australia called him into their touring side, and he left the county.
Hampshire won the Friends Provident Trophy v Sussex at Lord’s with Dominic Cork Man-of-the-Match. In the final qualifying match, Hampshire beat Nottinghamshire by 10 wickets and when Worcestershire lost to Ireland, they qualified for a home quarter-final v Middlesex which they won thanks to 100 by Lumb. In the semi-final at Old Trafford, Lumb and Adams opened with 159 and the latter took two stunning catches to take Hampshire to Lord’s. Sussex batted first and Cork struck as Sussex slipped from 30-0 to 43-4. Hampshire’s target was 220 and everyone contributed as they won by six wickets with almost 10 overs to spare.
Hampshire’s 316-2 v Ireland was their highest limited-overs score at the Rose Bowl and Ervine’s 167* was the highest limited-overs innings on the ground. Hampshire finished fifth in the Pro40 and reached a T20 quarter-final at Northampton a few days after their Lord’s Final. At 121-6 they needed 14 to win from 10 balls but failed to add a run and were bowled out.
In the Championship, Hampshire won just three matches but finished sixth, avoiding relegation. Imran Tahir returned in mid-season and took 52 wickets although at an average above 30. Hampshire scored 654-8 declared v Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge with 219 by Lumb. Adams, Carberry and Lumb passed 1,000 runs and Pothas averaged 74.18. Apart from Tahir, Griffiths with 32 was the highest wicket taker. Both Michael Carberry (204 v Warwickshire at the Rose Bowl) and Michael Lumb (219 v Notts at Trent Bridge) made career-best double hundreds.
Vince made his first-class debut and Briggs became the 500th player to make his first-class debut for the county since entering the Championship in 1895. Briggs appeared in the same side as Griffiths, the first occasion on which two men from the Isle of Wight had played in the same first-class side. Only one partnership record against another county was set: Imran Tahir and Danny Briggs added 80 for the tenth wicket against Somerset at the Rose Bowl.
England met Australia in an ODI at the Rose Bowl. Former captain Nick Pocock was elected President to succeed Barry Richards. At the end of the season, John Crawley retired, Chris Tremlett moved to Surrey and Billy Taylor left the staff.
Havant won the Southern Electric Premier League, with South Wilts runners-up.
Quiz Answer: Michael Lumb, Michael Carberry, Jimmy Adams, Sean Ervine, Chris Benham, Nic Pothas (w/k), Liam Dawson, Dimi Mascarenhas (capt.), Dominic Cork, Imran Tahir, Chris Tremlett.
Throughout 2026, 25 Years of The Bowl will be marked through a series of celebrations reflecting the venue’s history, people and progress.
One of the headline moments of the anniversary year comes on Friday 29 May, as Hampshire Hawks v Surrey brings the Party Like It’s 2001 theme to life with a retro-themed Vitality Blast double header at Utilita Bowl.
Together, these moments will celebrate 25 years of The Bowl - past, present and future.
