Hampshire Seniors’ are through to the semi-finals of the ECB 50-plus County Championship after pulling off a quite remarkable two-wicket win over Wales, literally snatching victory from the proverbial jaws of defeat as they recovered from 37-6 to overhaul a Welsh total of 148-7 and win by three wickets.
Wales had won their qualifying group in some style, losing only once in seven outings and with a side laden with former county, minor counties and current ECB South Wales Premier League players, probably fancied their chances.
But put into bat at Ynysygerwn, twice losing Lord’s finalists in the Voneus Village Cup, they were rocking at 22-3, all three wickets snared by New Milton left-armer Nick Gargaro, who returned splendid figures of 3-9 off six overs, two of which were maidens. Stu Shapland, at short extra-cover, took a wonder one-hand catch to dismiss Llanelli’s Iwan Rees, who has already plundered over 1,000 runs in all cricket this summer.
Shapland’s introduction kept a lid on the scoring rate whilst Bramshaw’s Zane D’Monte (nursing an injured shoulder) produced the ball of the match, a hooping delivery which the bemused Keri Chahal (19) left only to see his stumps shattered.
Only Wales opener Glen Chambers (39 off 109 balls) showed much resistance until Basingstoke & North Hants office Matt Thankachan (3-30) had him caught behind by Darren Vann. Ably supported by Pete Hayward, the Seniors bowling unit suppressed the normally free scoring Welsh.
Thankachan then clean bowled two more victims to put Hampshire well on top with Wales innings in disarray at 110-8.
Inevitably, the tail of the Welsh dragon wagged a little as ex Glamorgan and Gloucestershire county cricketer Mark Davies (22*) & Leeds (24*) eased the total up to 148 - surely the game was Hampshire’s to lose.
As always, things are never straightforward. Hampshire’s opening batsmen Charlie Forward and Andy Giles were completely bogged down by Wales' economical front-line bowlers, unable to assert any semblance of control.
When they departed, the Seniors had a mere 29 runs on the board after 18 overs. Worse was to follow as the innings imploded Hampshire losing 4 wickets in three overs. At 37-6, it looked as though the Seniors 2021 campaign was all but over.
Grit and determination
Down in the valleys, the Neath male voice choir was clearing its throats for a rendering or two of Calon Lan and Cwm Rhodda and an evening of celebratory song – but all was not lost.
Enter Shapland in belligerent mood and with Havant’s Pete Hayward (pictured above) they brought their years of experience to bear as with grit and determination they steadily started to dominate to see the pendulum swing back towards Hampshire. The asking rate was never more than five runs an over.
When Shapland (37) was brilliantly caught in the deep by Chahal and the score on 94-7 there was still the cricketing equivalent of the Brecon Beacons to overcome. With D’Monte playing a holding role, Hayward (46) continued to plunder runs with selective shot selection including two maximums as Hampshire approached the target for the most unlikely of victories.
When he holed out with a mere six runs required, Trojans captain Jamie Donaldson, star of the dramatic win over Somerset at May’s Bounty back in May, strode to the crease. With the experienced Davies bowling, he took his time before bludgeoning two straight drives to the boundary to record a memorable win to roars of delight from the travelling Hampshire contingent.
This is the fourth time Hampshire have reached the 50s semi-final - on three previous occasions losing to Lancashire (2012) and Essex in 2013 and 2014. How ironic its Essex away at Broxbourne in early September.
Wales had won their qualifying group in some style, losing only once in seven outings and with a side laden with former county, minor counties and current ECB South Wales Premier League players, probably fancied their chances.
But put into bat at Ynysygerwn, twice losing Lord’s finalists in the Voneus Village Cup, they were rocking at 22-3, all three wickets snared by New Milton left-armer Nick Gargaro, who returned splendid figures of 3-9 off six overs, two of which were maidens. Stu Shapland, at short extra-cover, took a wonder one-hand catch to dismiss Llanelli’s Iwan Rees, who has already plundered over 1,000 runs in all cricket this summer.
Shapland’s introduction kept a lid on the scoring rate whilst Bramshaw’s Zane D’Monte (nursing an injured shoulder) produced the ball of the match, a hooping delivery which the bemused Keri Chahal (19) left only to see his stumps shattered.
Only Wales opener Glen Chambers (39 off 109 balls) showed much resistance until Basingstoke & North Hants office Matt Thankachan (3-30) had him caught behind by Darren Vann. Ably supported by Pete Hayward, the Seniors bowling unit suppressed the normally free scoring Welsh.
Thankachan then clean bowled two more victims to put Hampshire well on top with Wales innings in disarray at 110-8.
Inevitably, the tail of the Welsh dragon wagged a little as ex Glamorgan and Gloucestershire county cricketer Mark Davies (22*) & Leeds (24*) eased the total up to 148 - surely the game was Hampshire’s to lose.
As always, things are never straightforward. Hampshire’s opening batsmen Charlie Forward and Andy Giles were completely bogged down by Wales' economical front-line bowlers, unable to assert any semblance of control.
When they departed, the Seniors had a mere 29 runs on the board after 18 overs. Worse was to follow as the innings imploded Hampshire losing 4 wickets in three overs. At 37-6, it looked as though the Seniors 2021 campaign was all but over.
Grit and determination
Down in the valleys, the Neath male voice choir was clearing its throats for a rendering or two of Calon Lan and Cwm Rhodda and an evening of celebratory song – but all was not lost.
Enter Shapland in belligerent mood and with Havant’s Pete Hayward (pictured above) they brought their years of experience to bear as with grit and determination they steadily started to dominate to see the pendulum swing back towards Hampshire. The asking rate was never more than five runs an over.
When Shapland (37) was brilliantly caught in the deep by Chahal and the score on 94-7 there was still the cricketing equivalent of the Brecon Beacons to overcome. With D’Monte playing a holding role, Hayward (46) continued to plunder runs with selective shot selection including two maximums as Hampshire approached the target for the most unlikely of victories.
When he holed out with a mere six runs required, Trojans captain Jamie Donaldson, star of the dramatic win over Somerset at May’s Bounty back in May, strode to the crease. With the experienced Davies bowling, he took his time before bludgeoning two straight drives to the boundary to record a memorable win to roars of delight from the travelling Hampshire contingent.
This is the fourth time Hampshire have reached the 50s semi-final - on three previous occasions losing to Lancashire (2012) and Essex in 2013 and 2014. How ironic its Essex away at Broxbourne in early September.
Welsh male voice choir celebratory sing-song halted by Hampshire victory !
