From The Archive | Episode 6: Bringing Home The Hardware

2005: Bringing Home The Hardware

Quiz Question:  Who else apart from John Crawley (301*) made a century when Hampshire totalled 714-5 at the Rose Bowl in September 2005?

See the bottom of the article for the answer

Champions: Nottinghamshire, Knock-out Cup: Hampshire, National League: Essex, T20: Somerset

After 13 barren years, Hampshire won a trophy, defeating Warwickshire in the C&G Trophy Final at Lord’s in an exciting match on a fine day. Since they also finished runners-up to County Champions Nottinghamshire, it was a successful season although the Championship conclusion brought frustration.

During the winter Hampshire signed Sean Ervine who had played for Zimbabwe in the Rose Bowl’s first international match, plus Kevin Pietersen and Richard Logan from Nottinghamshire. Pietersen made an impressive debut for England’s limited-overs side in South Africa, scoring three centuries for England in that series. He then participated in England’s thrilling recovery of the Ashes in 2005. Chris Tremlett made his limited-overs debut for England and took two wickets in two balls v Bangladesh at Trent Bridge. 

Hampshire beat Shropshire, Glamorgan, Surrey and Yorkshire on their way to the Lord’s Final. At the Oval, Surrey posted 358-6, a record against the county, but Watson with 132 led the reply, supported by forties from Crawley, New Zealander Craig McMillan and Udal who was deputizing as captain for Warne while he participated in the Ashes series. Ervine’s century took Hampshire to victory in the semi-final, and he repeated the feat in the final, while Australians (‘Andy’) Bichel and Watson took three wickets each. Despite a fine century from Nick Knight, Hampshire won by 18 runs.

By contrast, Hampshire won just five of their 16 National League matches finished bottom and were relegated. They won just three of their eight T20 matches so did not qualify for the knock-out stages.

In the Championship, Hampshire won three and drew two of the first five matches before a reverse at Stratford from where they went to Trent Bridge and in a rain-affected match challenged Nottinghamshire to score 276 to win. They reached 250-4 but with 18 needed from four overs, Chris Tremlett’s ‘hat-trick’ reduced them to 261-9 and Warne completed the victory. With Pothas injured, deputy John Crawley effected six dismissals in the second innings – a Hampshire record. They topped the table, but two defeats followed.

At Cheltenham, Bichel who had replaced McMillan scored 138 on debut, the sixth debut centurion at Hampshire, sharing a record eighth wicket partnership with Pothas (139), which rescued Hampshire from 81-7 as they added 257. In mid-September Hampshire still had hopes of the title until at Canterbury, Nottinghamshire declared setting Kent 420 in 70 overs and bowled them out. The new Champions came to the Rose Bowl for the last match and with Warne still angry about that game, Hampshire posted their record score of 714-5 although he declared on Crawley when, with 311*, he was just five runs short of Moore’s record score for Hampshire. Mascarenhas and Udal bowled Hampshire to victory by an innings and 188 runs.

On 13 June, at the Rose Bowl, England beat Australia by 100 runs in the first-ever T20 international, while Oasis appeared in a concert on the ground. The plc announced a significant operating loss. Two local players, Derek Kenway and Lawrence Prittipaul were released and Alan Mullally, who was the season’s beneficiary, retired.

BAT Sports won the Southern Electric Premier League, with South Wilts runners-up.

Quiz Answer:  Dimitri Mascarenhas made 103* in Hampshire’s record score on our home ground. 

You Can Be a Part of History

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.