Big-hitting Australian batter Hilton Cartwright returns to Utilita Bowl for a second stint with Hampshire Hawks.

The 33-year-old joined the club for the latter half of last year’s Vitality Blast and made an instant impact, taking a catch off the second ball of the innings against Sussex Sharks, and completing a direct hit run out as the Hawks beat their local rivals in el clasicoast.

In seven matches, Cartwright smashed 213 runs at an average of 35.50 with a phenomenal strike rate of 197.22.

His two fifties came in the final group match against Essex and 61 off just 31 deliveries in the quarter-final against Durham at Chester-le-Street.

Against Glamorgan at Utilita Bowl, Cartwright blitzed 48 runs off only 20 balls as the Hawks posted 208.

During his time with the Hawks, Cartwright won five and lost two matches, and helped the club to reach Finals Day for a record 11^th time.

Off the back of his prolific campaign in the Vitality Blast, Cartwright joined Southern Brave for seven matches in The Hundred.

He continued his fine form with 111 runs at a strike rate of 163.23, including 51* off just 19 deliveries against Welsh Fire at Sophia Gardens, as the Brave won by just four runs.

In this winter’s Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia, Cartwright has scored 93 runs whilst striking at 136.76 for Melbourne Stars who qualified for the BBL Knockout match.