Lymington’s Calvin Dickinson scored a sublime 23-ball 50 to upstage his Kent counterpart Sam Billings and set up Hampshire’s six-wicket NatWest T20 Blast win over the Spitfires in Canterbury.
In only his second appearance in the short-form game, Dickinson cracked eight fours and two sixes to get Hampshire off to a flying start in their pursuit of Kent’s par-for-the-course total of 167 for seven.
Following Dickinson’s pyrotechnics, Hampshire skipper James Vince played a typically level-headed innings of 57 off 36-balls to earn his side’s seventh south group win with 16 deliveries to spare.
Dickinson said: “It’s been a brilliant couple of days and really nice to get out there and play some first team cricket. Kent were biting at our heels going into this game, so this was a vital win for us.
“We’ve probably done enough to qualify now but it’d be great to get a home quarter final. We needed impetus from the start and James Vince and I spoke about one of us going hard at the top. In the 2nd team I’ve looked to be positive and when it’s your day you just have to make the most of it.”
Dickenson refused to let rookie left-arm spinner Imran Qayyum settle,
taking 14 off his first over, then the impish 20-year-old plundered 16 off Coles to post Hampshire’s 50 after only four overs.
Kent’s decision to drop their hugely experienced spinner James Tredwell in favour of Qayyum came into question when the 24-year-old conceded a brace of sixes to James Vince, while, at the other end, Dickinson cantered to his maiden 50 in the Blast.
Dickinson, who played Hampshire League cricket for Ryde as a teenager, departed after a miscued drive to mid-on against Mitch Claydon, but his impish innings ensured Hampshire had raced to 79 for one come the end of their powerplay.
Kent skipper Sam Northeast said: “Dickinson played really well and put us under pressure from ball one which exactly what you want in a run chase to get off to a flyer like that then James Vince took it on and it looks like he’s in brilliant touch as well.
In only his second appearance in the short-form game, Dickinson cracked eight fours and two sixes to get Hampshire off to a flying start in their pursuit of Kent’s par-for-the-course total of 167 for seven.
Following Dickinson’s pyrotechnics, Hampshire skipper James Vince played a typically level-headed innings of 57 off 36-balls to earn his side’s seventh south group win with 16 deliveries to spare.
Dickinson said: “It’s been a brilliant couple of days and really nice to get out there and play some first team cricket. Kent were biting at our heels going into this game, so this was a vital win for us.
“We’ve probably done enough to qualify now but it’d be great to get a home quarter final. We needed impetus from the start and James Vince and I spoke about one of us going hard at the top. In the 2nd team I’ve looked to be positive and when it’s your day you just have to make the most of it.”
Dickenson refused to let rookie left-arm spinner Imran Qayyum settle,
taking 14 off his first over, then the impish 20-year-old plundered 16 off Coles to post Hampshire’s 50 after only four overs.
Kent’s decision to drop their hugely experienced spinner James Tredwell in favour of Qayyum came into question when the 24-year-old conceded a brace of sixes to James Vince, while, at the other end, Dickinson cantered to his maiden 50 in the Blast.
Dickinson, who played Hampshire League cricket for Ryde as a teenager, departed after a miscued drive to mid-on against Mitch Claydon, but his impish innings ensured Hampshire had raced to 79 for one come the end of their powerplay.
Kent skipper Sam Northeast said: “Dickinson played really well and put us under pressure from ball one which exactly what you want in a run chase to get off to a flyer like that then James Vince took it on and it looks like he’s in brilliant touch as well.
