Hampshire Hawks' 2021 Vitality Blast So Far

Hampshire Hawks qualified for the knockout stages of the Vitality Blast competition in quite extraordinary circumstances – winning their final five group stage matches – before qualifying for Vitality Blast Finals Day with an equally extraordinary come-from-behind victory at Trent Bridge against defending champions Notts Outlaws.

Recap on the Hawks run to Vitality Blast Finals Day here.

Kent Spitfires v Hampshire Hawks | The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury | Wednesday 9^th June 2021 | Group Stage

Kent Spitfires won by 38 runs

Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond got Kent off to a flying start, notching 86 runs in the opening 7 overs before the Hawks’ spinners Crane (3-23) and Dawson (1-28) slowed things down. Ollie Robinson carried his bat, scoring 48 runs and helping Kent post a competitive 176-6 at the end their innings.

The Hawks made a fast start in their chase with James Vince and D’Arcy Short smashing 51 in the first 6 overs, before 45-year-old Darren Stevens accounted for both openers. The Hawks couldn’t maintain their early momentum and ended 138-9.

Essex Eagles v Hampshire Hawks | The Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford | Friday 11^th June 2021 | Group Stage

Hampshire Hawks won by 13 runs

Joe Weatherley top-scored with 42 and James Fuller contributed some late-innings six-hitting, scoring 26 from just 13 balls, as the Hawks battled to reach 155-6.

Chris Wood then lead an excellent defensive bowling display – his four overs going for just 15 runs – along with Liam Dawson (1-17) before Wheal, Crane & Short picked up the remainder of the wickets to bowl out the Eagles for just 142.

Sussex Sharks v Hampshire Hawks | The 1^st Central County Ground, Hove | Saturday 12^th June 2021 | Group Stage

Sussex Sharks won by 9 wickets

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Hampshire struggled early in the face of some tight, hostile bowling. James Vince top scored with a typically elegant 36, while some late innings impetuous from James Fuller helped the Hawks to 154-7.

Phil Salt came out firing in return, scoring 72 from just 44 balls with five fours and five sixes. A partnership of over 100 with Ravi Bopara ended the Hawks hopes, the Sharks winning the first ‘el clasicoast’ of the season by 9 wickets.

Middlesex v Hampshire Hawks | Radlett Cricket Club, Radlett | Tuesday 15^th June 2021 | Group Stage

Middlesex won by 3 wickets

D’Arcy Short, Joe Weatherley and Lewis McManus all contributed scores of over 40 in Hampshire’s impressive first innings total of 215-6 after being asked to bat first.

However, twin half centuries from Joe Cracknell and John Simpson led Middlesex to what at halfway looked an unlikely victory, by three wickets with only three balls remaining.

Surrey v Hampshire Hawks | The Kia Oval, London | Friday 18^th June 2021 | Group Stage

Match abandoned due to inclement weather

Gloucestershire v Hampshire Hawks | The County Ground, Bristol | Sunday 20^th June 2021 | Group Stage

Match abandoned due to inclement weather

Somerset v Hampshire Hawks | The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton | Friday 25^th June 2021 | Group Stage

Somerset win by 7 runs

Somerset’s managed to post 172 batting first in an innings which was dominated by Tom Banton (77 from 37). Banton was eventually dismissed by Scott Currie, one of the four batsmen the young seamer accounted for at Taunton.

On debut Colin de Grandhomme’s impressed but his innings (66 from 34 balls) was in vain as the Hawks fell short of the hosts’ total.

Hampshire Hawks v Middlesex | The Ageas Bowl, Southampton | Monday 28^th June 2021 | Group Stage

Match abandoned due to inclement weather

Hampshire Hawks v Surrey | The Ageas Bowl, Southampton | Wednesday 30^th June 2021 | Group Stage

Surrey win by 20 runs

Having won the toss and opting to bowl, the Hawks restricted a strong Surrey side to just 146-7 with Scott Currie once again impressing, taking 3-21 from three overs. Brad Wheal also took two wickets at an economy at less than six.

In reply, none of the Hawks batsmen got going, debutant Tom Prest top scoring with 20. Hampshire only managed 126-8 from the allotted overs.

Hampshire Hawks v Gloucestershire | The Ageas Bowl, Southampton | Friday 2^nd July 2021 | Group Stage

Hampshire Hawks win by 10 runs

Captain Vince the toss and the Hawks raced to 176-6 from their 20 overs with Tom Prest once again impressing, anchoring the innings with 59 from 42 balls with six fours and two sixes. James Fuller added the required impetuous at the end of the innings with a quick fire 38.

The total proved too much for Gloucestershire despite 50 from New Zealand international Glenn Phillips. Tight bowling from Wood, Wheal and Currie saw Gloucestershire fall just short.

Hampshire Hawks v Somerset | The Ageas Bowl, Southampton | Friday 9^th June 2021 | Group Stage

Hampshire Hawks win by 75 runs

Batting first once again, the Hawks posted 175 from 20 overs. Joe Weatherley and Lewis McManus both scoring half-centuries in a big partnership.

Scott Currie proved too much for Somerset, taking 4-24 in just three overs. Brad Wheal also starred conceding just 6 runs from three overs while chipping in with two wickets. None of Somerset’s batsmen had an answer as the Hawks registered a big win.

Hampshire Hawks v Essex Eagles | The Ageas Bowl, Southampton | Friday 16^th July | Group Stage

Hampshire Hawks win by 18 runs

In the first of two Vitality Blast matches at The Ageas Bowl on the same day, Captain James Vince led from the front, notching 63. Some late innings hitting from McManus and de Grandhomme saw Hampshire to another score of over 170.

In reply, Dan Lawrence top scored with an elegant 60 but each Hawks bowler picked up a wicket as they bowled Essex Eagles out for 153 runs.

Hampshire Hawks v Sussex Sharks | The Ageas Bowl, Southampton | Friday 16^th July | Group Stage

Hampshire Hawks win by 6 wickets

Batting first, the Sharks charged to 183-6 from their 20 overs, with Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright both scoring half centuries. Liam Dawson showed his quality with the ball, taking two wickets from four overs, only conceding 15 runs.

James Vince was in incredible form in reply, racing to a magnificent 100 before Joe Weatherley finished off the innings in a hurry, his 24 coming off only 12 balls as the Hawks took the summer’s second instalment of ‘el clasicoast’.

Hampshire Hawks v Glamorgan | The Ageas Bowl, Southampton | Sunday 18^th July | Group Stage

Hampshire Hawks win by 6 wickets

Batting first, Glamorgan - led by David Lloyd and Marnus Labuschagne (78 off only 47 balls) – posted 184-4 with Brad Wheal picking up three wickets.

The Hawks needed to chase down the Welsh side’s total within 14 overs to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Vitality Blast. A quick-fire 101 run partnership (in just seven overs) between James Vince and D’Arcy Short (69 from 30) set the tone before Joe Weatherley (43 from just 13) got the Hawks over the line in quite remarkable fashion and inside 13 overs.

Nottinghamshire Outlaws v Hampshire Hawks | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | Wednesday 25^th August | Quarter-Final

Hampshire Hawks win by 2 runs

Hampshire Hawks travelled to Trent Bridge to face defending champions Notts Outlaws as firm underdogs.

Batting first, the Hawks lost both Vince and Short early, with the visitors’ innings held together by Tom Prest (44) who showed maturity beyond his years as the Hawks eventually posted what appeared to be an under-par 125-9.

The Outlaws got off to a flier and were 66-1 inside eight overs. Incredibly, after looking like the game was gone, the Hawks reduced Notts to 66-2, 68-3, 83-4, 84-5, 88-6, 96-7 and 96-8.

When the eighth wicket fell with the hosts still short of three figures it looked like the Hawks’ to lose. Some big hitting from Matt Carter (23*) swung the thrilling match back in Notts’ favour but Brad Wheal accounted for Luke Fletcher (109-9) before having Dane Paterson caught behind in the final over to seal a remarkable victory.