Hampshire NWT20 Blast Semi-Final at Edgbaston

MULLANEY'S MAGIC SPELLS HAMPSHIRE'S EXIT

At 97 for two in the eleventh over Hampshire looked to be cruising in this semi final match, but a dramatic collapse inspired by man of the match Steven Mullaney saw Notts home by 23 runs. 

James Vince had scored a rapid 50 off 25 balls, but a brilliant slower ball from Mullaney saw off Alsop and then he removed overseas star George Bailey's middle stump in his next over. Crucially the key wicket of Vince holing out to square leg then followed, Mullaney three for 22. A brilliant run out by Patel got Carberry as Gurney wiped out the lower order with three wickets in four balls as the left armer finished with three for 19 off three overs. It was the first time that Notts had beaten Hampshire in a knock out tie after four defeats in Gillette/Nat West and two T20 quarter final exits.

Notts resisted the temptation to bring Stuart Broad into the eleven and announced an unchanged team. Hampshire won the toss and inserted Notts. Liam Dawson bowled the first over from the Pavilion End which he conceded three singles and thanks to a wild throw off the last ball from James Vince, four overthrows. Gareth Berg then came on and was hit for six over mid wicket by Hales who then hit him through backward point for four, 20 for 0 off two overs. Chris Wood then came on for Dawson and with his third ball had Hales (15 – 7 balls) caught at short third man by Afridi, 23 for one. Kyle Abbott bowled the fourth over and was swept for a leg side four by Wessels and two balls later Wessels hit him for six over square leg, 36 for one off 4 overs. Chris Wood remained on and was hit for a straight six by Wessels 0. Then Moores slashed to short third man Abbott off Wood to leave with a 4 ball duck, 49 for two off five overs. Berg was hit for four through mid wicket by Brendan Taylor, 56 for two at the end of the power play. Dawson returned and was hit for three consecutive fours by Wessels. Mason Crane dismissed Wessels via a leading edge as Vince took the catch in the covers. Wessels had made 48 off 27 balls (5 x 4, 2 x 6), 71 for three. The young leg spinner went for two off his first over. 

Afridi made it an all leg spin attack, 78 for three after nine. Taylor and Patel could only gather five off Crane's second over. The leg spinners were turning the screw with Notts 90 for three off 11. Patel then hit Crane for four through the covers in an over that went for eight. Taylor perished for 19 off 20 balls (1 x 4) caught at long off by Wood off Afridi, 99 for four. Patel hit Crane for a straight four but the youngster had bowled well under pressure, four overs 1 for 22, 109 for four off 14 overs. Christian then found the square leg boundary off Afridi who finished with identical figures to Crane's, 115 for four off 15. With Notts struggling against spin Dawson came on and Patel hit him for six over long on but next ball he was caught at long off by Berg for 35 off 31 (3 x 4, 1 x 6), 122 for five. With four overs left Notts stood at 123 for five as Abbott returned from the Pavilion End and was hit over backward square leg by Christian. It was just a starter as sixes followed over extra cover and deep mid wicket but then the Captain was caught on the cover boundary as Abbott got his revenge. Christian had made 24 off 12 balls (3 x 6), 143 for six off 17. Root got five off his first two balls but Mullaney became the third Notts batsman to be caught at short third man as he left with a blob to his name, 148 for seven. Dawson two for 36 off his 4 overs. Sodhi hit a defiant leg side six off Abbott who had three overs 1 for 41, 160 for seven with one over left. The last over was bowled by Berg which went for nine, 169 for seven off 20 overs. Sodhi 15 not out (9 balls) and Root 11 not out (8 balls). Hampshire had given away two extras and apart from the four overthrows their fielding had been first class. Wessels' early pyrotechnics and Christian’s cameo had led Notts to about par on a used pitch.

Samit Patel opened from the City End as Boom Boom went quackers caught on the mid wicket ropes for a golden duck. Vince hit Patel for a boundary through extra cover, seven for one after one over. Gurney came on for the second over and conceded four. As expected Ball bowled over three, 18 for one after three overs. Christian assigned himself for over four as Vince hit him for fours through mid on and backward square leg followed by enormous six over mid wicket in an over which leaked 16. Christian never bowled again. Gurney switched ends as a short ball was pulled for four by Calvin Dickinson and then the youngster hit a straight four, 11 off the over. Ball bowled the last over of the power play; Dickinson hit two fours and then was caught running back at mid on by Christian for 27 (21 balls – 4 x 4), 55 for two at the completion of the power play. Patel returned from the City End and was reverse swept for four by Alsop in an over going for six. Ish Sodhi bowled the eighth over and was hit four through the covers first ball by Vince and then went for an enormous straight six by Alsop, 14 off the over. Mullaney conceded five as Christian opted for Patel once more. Patel dropped a caught and bowled chance when Alsop had 11. Vince got to his 50 with a six over mid wicket off 25 balls off Patel, 91 for two at halfway house. The game though then took an unexpected twist. Tom Alsop (20 – 17 balls 2 x 4) tapped a slower ball back to Mullaney who took the catch low down, 97 for three. Hampshire needed 71 off nine overs as Sodhi got another chance and went for six this time. Bailey lost his middle stump to Mullaney for four, 105 for four. Six off the over including an edged four for Michael Carberry. Back into the attack came Patel as Carberry hit him for a straight six. Hampshire 119 for four after 14, Patel four overs 1 for 32. A sudden rush of blood to the head saw James Vince hole out to the square leg ropes off Mullaney, 56 off 32 balls (5 x 4, 3 x 6). Taylor taking the catch, 120 for five. The crucial wicket, Hampshire were now enveloped in a Notts web with no escape. Dawson went for a quick single to short third man but Patel scored with a direct hit, Carberry run out for 13, 120 for six. Mullaney outstanding with three for 22. Sodhi came back, four off the over, the leg spinner three overs for 24. Forty four now required off four but Jake Ball went for 14. Gurney bowled the eighteenth over. Liam Dawson was caught at long on by Wessels, 140 for seven. Gareth Berg went exactly the same way for 15 (12 balls – 2 x 4) two balls later. Hampshire were imploding as Abbott was caught by Christian for a golden duck. Hampshire 143 for nine off 18 overs. A brilliant Yorker from Ball (2 for 32) bowled Wood for two, the lights on the stumps shining brightly. Hampshire 146 all out with eight balls unused as Notts got home by 23 runs. A come back of Lazarus proportions. 

The Bears awaited, Warwickshire having seen off The Glamboks by 11 runs in the first semi. The “Welshmen” had fielded well but the pressure of the run chase eventually told. They fielded a team of six South African born players, one Australian born, three men from the principality and Wagg from Rugby. They could easily enter any T20 competition in the world fielding the same eleven, T20 franchise cricket has come three years early.MAG