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Hampshire Second XI To Host Lancashire In Championship Final At Newclose
Hampshire Second XI To Host Lancashire In Championship Final At Newclose
Will Smith’s side will face the North Group leaders in the Second XI Play-Off Championship on the Isle of Wight next month
Hampshire Cricket are delighted to announce that the 2017 ECB First Class Counties 2nd XI Championship play-off against Lancashire will be played at Newclose County Cricket Ground.
Based near Newport on the Isle of Wight, Newclose has had a healthy relationship with the county over the years, hosting their maiden first-class fixture over 50 years ago.
Hampshire finished top of the South Division, 14 points clear of Middlesex, and will face Lancashire in a play-off beginning on 5 September, with free admission and parking for all four days of the game, with play getting underway at 10:30am.
Will Smith’s side have enjoyed a successful season, winning four of their nine matches, losing just once, that being their last fixture of the campaign against Somerset at Taunton Vale.
In addition, 13 players that have played in the 2nd XI Championship this season have gone onto represent the first-team, with Jake Lintott the most recent player to move up the ranks.
The likes of Calvin Dickinson, Ian Holland and Brad Taylor being given opportunities to play in various formats throughout the campaign.
We've been really pleased with how this year's Championship campaign has gone and hopefully we can continue to build on that and perform well in the final.
It's great to also be returning to the Isle of Wight for the fixture - Newclose is an excellent ground and the lads really enjoy playing there.
Charlie Freeston, Hampshire 2XI Head Coach
Lancashire finished top in an extremely tight North Group, with the highest five teams separated by just ten points, but like Hampshire, the Red Rose have lost just once all season.
Hampshire Cricket are no strangers to competing on the Isle of Wight and at Newclose since the late Brian Gardener invested £2 million of his own funds to establish it a decade ago.
More recently, Hampshire 2nd XI welcomed Sussex 2nd XI in both Championship and T20 matches, whilst Newclose have also hosted matches for the MCC and the Southern Vipers.
The visiting teams never fail to be impressed with the Newclose facilities in general, but the pitches in particular. By design, the dimensions of the playing area at Newclose are the same as Lord’s.
The Groundsman, Andy Butler, has created the ideal playing surfaces for Ventnor CC’s 1st XI in the British Gas Southern Premier League, a competition that has also accommodated Hampshire 2nd XI players.
We are immensely proud to have been given the opportunity to host what is arguably the season’s most important ECB domestic fixture below the level of First Class County First XIs.
As the summer holiday season nears its end, there are still thousands of visitors on the Island which makes it likely that the cricket will be played in front of an appreciative audience on all four days
Hugh Griffiths, Newclose General Manager and former Chief Executive of Sussex CCC
Hampshire 2nd XI last faced Lancashire back in June 2006, with Liam Dawson and James Tomlinson featuring in a five-wicket defeat at Old Trafford.
