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From The Archive | Episode 5: Getting Down To Business
From The Archive | Episode 5: Getting Down To Business
As we celebrate 25 Years of The Bowl, we uncover the stories behind the venue’s journey.
Written by
Dave Allen
Hampshire Cricket Heritage
John Winter
Hampshire Cricket Heritage
2004: Getting Down To Business
Quiz Question: Which player took the first-ever hat-trick in the Twenty20 Cup Competition, as well as winning Hampshire’s Player of the Season award in 2004?
See the bottom of the article for the answer
Shane Warne (captain) and Michael Clarke were the two overseas players although when Clarke returned to Australia, Shane Watson replaced him as the second overseas player and in his one Championship appearance scored a century on county debut, the fifth Hampshire player to do so. Shane Warne proved an inspiration as captain.
In the Frizzell County Championship, Hampshire were promoted, finishing runners-up to Nottinghamshire. Nine victories were achieved. The final points total of 228 was 32 clear of third-placed Glamorgan. Of the 12 first-class centuries score, five were made at the Rose Bowl. Leading the way was new recruit Michael Brown with unbeaten centuries against Glamorgan and Leicestershire. John Crawley scored 301* and Michael Clarke two centuries in the match at Trent Bridge. Crawley’s innings was the first Hampshire triple century since RH Moore’s record innings in 1937. Hampshire posted 641-4 declared but Nottinghamshire replied with 612 and the match was drawn. It was only the third time in a Championship match that both sides passed 600 on first innings. At the Rose Bowl, Phil Jacques (Yorkshire) and Will Jefferson (Essex) both scored double centuries and Essex beat Hampshire by 384 runs, Hampshire’s highest-ever runs defeat. No batter scored 1,000 runs, but seven averaged over 30; Crawley led the way with 938 at 52.11. Dimi Mascarenhas took 56 Championship wickets at 18.67 and Warne 51 at 24.13. No other first-class matches were played against the universities or touring sides by Hampshire in 2004.
Hampshire finished third in Division One of the National League; Nic Pothas was top scorer and Alan Mullally and Warne led the wicket-takers although Mascarenhas was most economical. In the C&G Trophy Hampshire beat Cheshire but lost in the 3rd Round at Bristol. Warne elected to bat first on a green pitch and they were dismissed for 154, losing by three wickets.
Shane Watson scored 97* v Kent in the T20 helping Hampshire to clinch a quarter-final place. At that time, it was Hampshire’s highest T20 score. At Hove, Hampshire arrested a run of defeats since their victory v Sussex in the first-ever match in 2003. Mascarenhas took 5-14 including the first ever T20 ‘hat-trick’ as Sussex were dismissed for 67. In the first-ever Rose Bowl T20 Quarter-Final, the Hawks lost to Lancashire by nine wickets.
Michael Brown joined from Middlesex and became the 469th Hampshire debutant.Michael Clarke (470), Billy Taylor (471), Shane Watson (472), Chris Benham (473) and Greg Lamb (474) all made their debuts. At the end of the season, Michael Clarke and Chris Tremlett received their county caps, while Will Kendall and James Hamblin retired.
Hampshire gained approval in November 2004 to install permanent floodlights from 2006. A scheduled international match between New Zealand and West Indies was abandoned with no play.
During September, ICC Trophy matches were played at various English grounds including five at the Rose Bowl. The first between India and Kenya was in front of a crowd of more than 12,000. India won by 98 runs and their captain Sourav Ganguly made 90. Australia then defeated the USA by 9 wickets. Bangladesh could only muster 131 in reply to the West Indies 269, for whom Chris Gayle top-scored with 99. A capacity crowd of just over 16,000 saw England make 118 for 3 from 32 overs before the rain halted play for the day on 17th September. With more rain preventing a scheduled finish the following day, they eventually beat Sri Lanka by 49 runs on Duckworth Lewis. Andrew Flintoff scored 104 from 91 balls, in an innings contained nine 4’s and three 6’s. West Indies knocked-out Pakistan, who could only muster 131, in the Rose Bowl Semi-Final. The most exciting game of the tournament was the Final at the Oval where a late-order partnership saw West Indies triumph over England.
Champions: Warwickshire, Knock-out Cup: Gloucestershire, National League: Glamorgan, T20: Leicestershire
South Wilts won the Southern Electric Premier League, with Havant runners-up.
Quiz Answer: Dimitri Mascarenhas. He took 5-14 at Hove in the Twenty20 Group game at Hove when Sussex were bowled out for the competition’s lowest score of 67. Live on Sky, Hampshire only won the game by 3 wickets off the last ball of the 19th over. Dimi took 54 Championship wickets at just 18.67 with the best analysis of 6-25 against Derbyshire at the Rose Bowl. He also scored 104 at Durham.
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.
