2025 Season Monthly Journal

In this section, you will be able to follow the HCH Website Editor's Journal for the 2025 season. It is based loosely on the format of The Cricketer Magazine's weekly record of past summers in their Autumn Annual. It will include a monthly summary of Hampshire's matches, general cricketing observations for the 2025 summer, as well as occasional comparisons, contrasts and parallels with the history making 1969 season for the County Championship. That was the first year of the John Player League, with a number of world stars arriving for the whole season around the counties. 

Please note in the following Journal - featuring predominantly Hampshire in 2025 - the gold colour text will relate to the 1969 season. There will also be regular references to where Hampshire History is being made in 2025.

Third Championship win in row against Yorkshire

Week One:  Beginning Monday April 7th  2025

In the pre-season friendly at the Utilita Bowl on Monday 24th March, Sam Robson got a pair in the Middlesex innings of 310-10 - out twice in the same way (ct Brown b Abbott) - off exactly the same number of deliveries: 3! Meanwhile, former fellow Middlesex opener, Mark Stoneman is the only man to pass 50 In Hampshire’s reply. He is featured on the BBC website in an article where he says he is "absolutely not" a direct replacement for James Vince but hopes his experience can help Hampshire push for a first County Championship title in more than 50 years. The left-handed batter, who hit five half-centuries in 11 Tests for England between August 2017 and May 2018 and has averaged 34.23 across his 250 first-class matches, said he feels "as motivated, driven and determined as ever to perform". 

What a difference a year makes: unlike twelve months ago when I didn’t see a ball bowled at Durham’s Chester- le-Street for Hampshire’s opening game of the season - because of the soaked ground - everyone all around the country can bask in the Spring sunshine for the start of the 2025 domestic cricket season. 

What a difference a year makes: unlike twelve months ago, Hampshire take the field at the Utilita Bowl without both James Vince and Mo Abbas. The loss of the former as captain, brilliant batsman and superb slip fielder puts a real cloud over Hampshire’s hope of challenging Surrey for the title. His retirement from red ball cricket is a double blow. He is aplayer of both real substance and great entertainment value. Class, elegance and time at the crease come along rarely and they have to be savoured just like a fine wine or great novel. An attack without Abbas and Barker (still out injured) also leaves Hampshire weakened in 2025. 

What a difference a year makes: unlike twelve months ago, Hampshire already have their first win in April after the opening round of matches. The Ben Brown era as Hampshire captain began with a comfortable five-wicket Rothesay County Championship win over newly promoted Yorkshire in three days.

For the start of the 2025 County Championship season, the Dukes ball is to be used, with the Kookaburra ball being introduced for four rounds in June and July. Having won the toss at the Utilita Bowl, Yorkshire have been shot out in 34.4 overs for just 121. The deficit at tea is just 44 runs for the loss of debutant Stoneman for 46. In the Yorkshire innings. Sonny Baker also on debut removed captain Bairstow in his first over. In the last session, Hampshire lost 4 more wickets in advancing the lead to 43. Toby Albert, batting in Vince’s berth at 4, was still there at the close 16 not out, from 80 balls. The first wicket of the second day at Southampton was typical early season rustiness: Toby Albert was left flat-footed by Liam Dawson in wanting a quick single in the off side, before Will Luxton swooped to run him out. From then on it felt as if the umpire was central, as the last four wickets all fell lbw – one for Dom Bess, one for White, one for Ben Coad, and one for Hill, who ended with three for 36. Yorkshire had barely missed fast bowler Ben Cliff; he was absent with a damaged side. Frustratingly, that left Hampshire one run shy of a bonus point with Brown also stranded on 49 after a fine attacking innings, marshalling the tail during his first match as club captain.

Second time around, Brad Wheal whipped out two early wickets. Fin Bean chipped a simple catch to mid on, before James Wharton had the ball speared into his pads next ball. Dawid Malan was able to let the hat-trick ball from Brad Wheal sail past his off stump without alarm. Just as in the first innings, Malan was very comfortable and classy, reached the 30s, and then failed to go on and cash in. Wheal again claimed his man, caught at the wicket. At 53 for three, and still behind by 75 runs, Bairstow came to the crease. His typically aggressive knock of 56 mixed good fortune and international level shot making, as he and Adam Lyth put on 105  to take the first-innings deficit into a 61-run lead by close. There were, though, three lives before he had reached 20. Firstly, Dawson spilled a difficult low caught and bowled, then Nick Gubbins had the ball bounce off his head and go for six at fine leg, before Gubbins’ substitute, Joe Weatherley, dropped a tough diving catch tumbling forwards off the very next ball at square leg.  From then on, it was the typically pugnacious and determined Bairstow that stuck around to pick up his 102nd first-class half-century in 92 balls. Tellingly, he was eventually bowled by Sonny Baker – who also dismissed him in the first innings – before Hill followed just four balls later. It was the biggest, best and quickest over of the match 

On Day Three,  Adam Lyth ground out 106 to give the visitors hope of a sensational turnaround victory. The 37-year-old went to a 38th first class century in 263 balls – four short of his slowest. He brought it up with a firm back foot drive to the boundary and quickly celebrated with two arms akimbo, before a series of fist pumps. He is Yorkshire’s 11th all-time leading red ball century-maker. It was a fine knock in the context of the game and he very nearly ended up carrying his bat through the innings. He was last man out caught off Hampshire’s third debutant, New Zealand all-rounder, Brett Hampton. Brad Wheal took a very impressive four for 48. 

Needing 148 for victory, Hampshire started well before Jack White and Dom Bess both took two quick wickets to leave Hampshire sweating on 86 for four. Tom Prest eased the worries, though, with a bullish 57 to take his side towards the win with Liam Dawson. Prest got the bit between his teeth and refused to bow to the pressure by trying to knock the runs off swiftly, although he was also put down on the square leg boundary. His sixth first-class fifty came in 64 balls, a ball before reaching a half-century stand with Dawson. With the scores level, Prest was bowled to give Bess a third wicket, leaving captain Brown to come in to score the winning run from his first ball to delight a sun-kissed Utilita Bowl crowd. It meant Hampshire’s fresh start without Vince and influential fast bowler Mo Abbas began with 19 points, while the visitors – with their new-look leadership team of Jonny Bairstow and Anthony McGrath – took three points from the contest. The only other winners in the first round of matches were Notts in their home game against Durham. Champions Surrey started with a draw at Chelmsford.

All results still possible going into the last hour in a fine game at the Oval

Week Two:  Beginning Monday April 14th  2025

For Hampshire's second game of the season, this time at the Oval, Ben Brown won his first toss, and his decision to insert Surrey initially looked a good one: Rory Burns and Ollie Pope were both out caught by Toby Albert before the score reached 30. From then until lunch, Dom Sibley dug in and Jamie Smith showed all of his international class, until he holed out on the third man fence at 96 for 39. Sonny Baker took a fine catch, parrying the ball back into play to complete the dismissal off the impressive Wheal. The ball had previously raced off Smith’s bat across the green outfield, bathed in bright sunshine, which enabled Surrey to score at nearly 5 an over. Hampshire, though, had now taken every chance offered in a competitive and fairly even opening session. Surrey’s fifth England international batsman, Ben Foakes, joined Sibley on 26. Meanwhile, Sonny Baker again looked very lively from the Micky Stewart Pavilion End, justifying his selection ahead of John Turner who has now joined Lancashire on a two week loan. Surrey went to lunch at 122-4 because, off the last ball of the session, Kyle Abbott managed to induce an inside edge from Foakes’ bat that fell back on to the stumps. Sibley walked off 33 not out. 

A visit to the recently refurbished Surrey Museum in the Pavilion during the Lunch Interval is a real treat. The new glass cabinet displays contain many recent international exhibits from Oval Test matches. Their book collection is comprehensive and equally smartly housed in high glass fronted bookcases. Outside the museum, there is also a fine collection of historic photographs all around the pavilion which recall great moments, notable achievements and fine England and Surrey players from days gone by. Just as the bar is set very high on the field at the Kia Oval, history and heritage are maintained all around this famous and proud old ground in a five star way. Out on the outfield, meanwhile, there are wall to wall games going on of impromptu games with kids, parents and grandparents all involved. It is a joy to behold at the start of the Easter Holidays. Surrey deserve to be congratulated on reversing the trend of keeping everyone off the ground in the intervals. The result is hundreds of kids made to feel very welcome at a 96 over day of red ball cricket, where they can learn all about the slower paced, but far more multifaceted ebbs and flows of a two innings game. 35 years of teaching taught me kids should never be patronised or underestimated; they will concentrate for hours if you engage, challenge and properly involve them. Hampshire are definitely missing a trick not following Surrey’s lead and opening up the ground for spectators to swap places with players at Lunch and Tea. 

At 129, Surrey lose their 5th England batsman. Dan Lawrence edges Wheal to Albert’s very safe hands in the Vince 2nd slip berth. Sibley went on and on at a similar pace to Adam Lyth last week. When Liam Dawson joined the attack from the Pavilion End to bowl the 48th over, Sibley eventually brought up his fifty from 152 balls, with just his sixth boundary, to take Surrey to 180-5. His partner, Ryan Patel, batted in the bright sunshine in a long sleeve sweater and looks very much like Usman Khawaja: solid, unflustered, left-handed, dependable and very effective. With the leg side trap set, Sibley finally offered the first chance which Hampshire can’t grab off the pacy Baker. It went straight in and out at short leg for what would have been Albert’s fourth catch. Hampton then claimed his first wicket when Patel was caught by Stoneman for 31, but the resolute Sibley remained unbeaten at tea on 64 off 64 overs. Surrey’s score was 198-6. 

Liam Dawson struck twice quickly after tea to remove Clark, caught at the wicket, and Roach bowled through the gate. In between, Baker also claimed his first wicket, when Fisher skied a return catch. At the time when last man Worrall walked to the wicket, Sibley was on 84. He now had every man on the fence. The next 16 runs were all his and he reached 100 not out off 217 balls. He was unable to add to that score, though, when Stoneman took a fine diving catch to his right at mid wicket to remove Worrell off Wheal, but it meant he had again carried his bat. Wheal finished with 4-65. Dawson took 2-23 off his 14 very economical overs in Surrey’s 253 all out off 77.3 overs. In Hampshire's reply, Fletcha Middleton was bowled in Worrall’s first over. For the remaining 14 overs to the close, the two very experienced left handers batted superbly. At the close, Hampshire at 55-1, trailed by 198 runs, with Stoneman on 19 and Gubbins 23. 

The morning session on the second day was tough going for Hampshire, who lost three cheap wickets and went to lunch at 97-4 off 45 overs. First to go was Gubbins for 31, caught by Pope at leg slip off Lawrence, quickly followed by Stoneman lbw for 28 and Albert caught at third slip off Clark for 1. The momentum had been reversed: 84-1 soon became 90-4. It was not to change from that point on, and by the end of a very tough day for Hampshire it was a trio of Surrey stars part of England’s past, present and possibly future that had put the defending champions in charge at the scheduled half way point in the match. Not for the first time against Hampshire in Surrey colours, Dan Worrall, who played ODI cricket for his native Australia back in 2016, but now a naturalised Briton, again suggested he might be a sensible pick for the winter Ashes series down under. He finished with 3-37, when the hosts bowled out Hampshire for 219 to lead by 34 on first innings. Tom Prest looked in good touch again with 44, including some well-timed punches off the back foot on a good wicket, before falling to a soft catch from a short ball in the short leg trap. Tea was taken at the point when last man Abbott was bowled for 38 by Lawrence, which meant Surrey had 42 overs to bat between tea and the close. Certainly important for the current England side was a return to form in that final session for the current Test vice-captain, Ollie Pope (56 not out), who had been short of runs in his first three innings this term. He struck a 67-ball half century, while teammate Dominic Sibley, an England man of the pre-Bazball era, followed his unbeaten century of the opening day, finishing with 55 not out. On another tough Oval day for the Hampshire bowlers, Sibley and Pope shared an ominous, unbroken stand of 80 before bad light brought a slightly premature close at 136-1.

Surrey batted very professionally in the first session of the third day to extend their advantage to 258, with 8 wickets still in hand. Hampshire’s only success was the removal of Pope for 65 off 109 balls, caught by Brown off Abbott. At lunch, Sibley needed just 12 for his second hundred in the game. The big difference was he had number 11 with him in the first innings when he was on 88; this time round, Smith at 4 looked extremely ominous with him  - with 45 off just 62 balls. Surrey’s England’s batsmen have looked a class apart, yet again, against Hampshire at an Oval ground where the ball races over the outfield, once it goes past the fielder. Nevertheless, Abbott and Dawson were typically exerting their usual customary control, conceding just over 2 runs an over in their combined 35 overs out of the 67 in the innings up until lunch. 

Sibley duly completed his second century of the match – and the 24th First-Class ton of his career – with two runs to fine leg before being caught off Liam Dawson. In doing so, he became the 20th Surrey player to score a hundred in each innings of a first-class game for the club. Ben Foakes soon followed cheaply again for just one, hitting Brett Hampton to short mid-wicket, before there was then a near two-hour delay for bad light and rain from 2.45pm, with Surrey in firm control on 282 for four. The lead had now been extended to 316 runs. The unscheduled break came at a good time for Hampshire. Some of Jamie Smith’s strokeplay had been eye-catching, although, on 24, he did edge Baker just short of slip, before regaining the initiative by hoisting the same bowler high over mid-wicket for six. One crisp on-driven four off Hampton took him to 68 and was perhaps the shot of the day, but he was then out to the first ball he faced following the weather interruption, swinging Baker high to deep square leg where Tom Prest took an outstanding low catch diving forward.

Sonny Baker had Dan Lawrence duly caught down the leg side by Brown for 23, before yorking both Clark (1) and Matt Fisher (2) at speeds approaching 90 mph. He was soon on a hat-trick, after having Dan Worrall caught behind first ball, but Roach kept him out and the declaration came at the end of the next over with Ryan Patel unbeaten on 30. It meant Hampshire needed 377 to win. Sonny Baker’s first ever five wicket haul was particularly impressive after the rain resumption. In the 16 overs of bowling before stumps, in far from ideal batting conditions, Surrey reduced Hampshire to 35 for three. Kemar Roach trapped Mark Stoneman lbw for three from around the wicket, before both Brad Wheal and Sonny Baker, who were sent in as night watchman, were dismissed by Jordan Clark. Wheal had resisted resolutely for 27 balls, before being bowled for nine, shouldering arms to one that nipped back, and Baker could only fend off a nasty lifter to second slip to spoil slightly what had been a very special day for the young speedster. 

Going into the fourth day, with seven wickets in hand, Hampshire faced the huge challenge of trying to score 342 for a very unlikely victory, or bat the day out for a hard-earned draw. Nick Gubbins and Toby Albert were Hampshire’s heroes by the end of the last day; they more than foiled Surrey’s attempt to force a first victory of the new Rothesay County Championship season at the Kia Oval. Sadly, in what had been a great game throughout, bad light actually had the final say, forcing the players from the field for what turned out to be the loss of four overs, when potentially 10 very exciting overs were still left. By that stage, Hampshire's fine effort all day meant they had reduced the equation down to needing 78, with Albert and Prest set, and five wickets still in hand. When the players returned, with just six overs now left, Jordan Clark sent down two balls before the players shook hands on the draw.

Having been dominant on Day One and then being out manoeuvred on Days Two and Three, Hampshire finished the game really strongly. They only lost two wickets on Day Four. Indeed, Surrey took almost an hour and a half to claim their only wicket of the morning session when Fletcha Middleton looked very disappointed to be given out leg before to Matt Fisher, after advancing steadily from his overnight 11 to 42. Middleton’s fourth wicket stand with Gubbins had been worth 74. Gubbins went to tea, three short of his hundred, and Toby Albert, who had gone to his half-century from 111 balls, looked in total control as Hampshire contemplated the final session of the game at 216 for four. The primary threat was with the second new ball, due two overs into the last session.This was duly taken by Jordan Clark and Dan Worrall, although by then Gubbins had reached his 20th first-class century from 215 balls. By the close at just before 6, Gubbins was the only other man out, late after tea. He had scored an invaluable five-hour 117, off 247 balls, with 12 boundaries. It had been a brilliant and chanceless knock. Toby Albert made an equally defiant 78 not out, from 182 balls, as Hampshire, starting the day on 35 for three eventually finished on 300 for five. Gubbins and Albert came together at 104 and were parted at 247. Tom Prest continued his very good early season form to finish 32 not out from 47 balls. 

It had been a fine match, with so many positives for Hampshire. They fought so hard to earn the draw and, by the end, looked the more likely winners. With 19 overs to go and 5 wickets in hand they needed exactly 6 an over to win. Despite the relatively new ball in the hands of Fisher and Roach, dark clouds, the lights on and Surrey with 6 fielders on the fence, Prest was still leading the charge. Hampshire's young batsmen Middleton, Albert and Prest are seemingly coming of age, while Sonny Baker is definitely one to watch, providing he can stay injury-free. Liam Dawson's control was what Surrey certainly lacked in their less balanced attack. The four days in South London will give the whole Hampshire squad so much confidence for the rest of the red ball campaign. Sussex, Warwickshire and Notts all have 35 points, while Hampshire are fourth in the embryonic Division One table on 30. The other victors in this round of games were Yorkshire (whom Hampshire beat last week); they thumped Worcestershire by 504 runs. Hampshire still have Worcestershire to play home and away, but that is it for games against Surrey and Yorkshire for another 12 months in the Championship. This game will quite rightly be remembered for Sonny Baker's first ever five wicket haul for Hampshire, as well as Surrey's Dom Sibley's two hundreds in the game, which was the 1107th occasion that has happened in the history of first-class cricket. If bad light had not interfered at the close, it is amazing to think that there was a real chance he might have even finished on the losing sight despite his own batting heroics. He faced 440 balls all told over the four days in a game where Hampshire took 11 points and Surrey 12. 

Liam Dawson named as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year for 2025

Week Three:  Beginning Monday April 21st  2025

The fantastic news this week is that Liam Dawson's amazing contribution to all formats of Hampshire cricket has earned him one of the game's ultimate accolades. Along with England's Sophie Ecclestone and the three Surrey Championship winners, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith and Dan Worrall, Liam has been named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year for 2025. The 162nd edition of Wisden came out this week and Liam is only the 17th Hampshire player to receive this award. His name will very soon be added to the list of previous winners, proudly displayed on a board in the Atrium at the Utilita Bowl. In many ways, his achievement matches most that of Peter Sainsbury in 1974 and Trevor Jesty in 1983 in the past 60 years: namely, that his incredible record of playing for Hampshire last summer  - with no international exposure - cements his inclusion. That is particularly hard to do in any era. I wrote the following piece about Liam last November that has been included in the 2025 Hampshire Handbook also published this month, "Hampshire supporters and teammates recognise that Liam Dawson’s value to our side has never been worth more in his sixteen seasons in the first team. He is now consistently playing the best cricket of his career - just like Joe Root, who deserves to be named Wisden International Cricketer of the Year. Liam’s reward for his brilliant career with Hampshire - and particularly for the summers of 2023 and 2024 - must surely be to receive one of the great historical accolades in the game: namely to be chosen as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2025."  A special award then for a special player, richly deserved and well appreciated by all who follow county cricket with a keen interest. 

In Hampshire's third Championship game this week, Somerset went to lunch at 94-6 off the only 27.5 overs possible on Day One, immediately after Kasey Aldridge was bowled off stump by Brad Wheal. The session turned for Hampshire with an outstanding piece of work in the field. Earlier, when Somerset were going along reasonably well at 93-3, the in-form Tom Banton clipped a ball off his toes in the mid wicket area where Nick Gubbins pulled off a superb one-handed diving catch. Cue great team celebrations for an outstanding piece of fielding which gave Kyle Abbott yet another Utilita Bowl Somerset wicket. How he enjoys getting on a roll against these particular opponents! He soon followed that up when James Rew was caught at the wicket for 0. After losing the toss and being inserted, Somerset had started by losing their first wicket at 14 in the sixth over: Wheal trapped Dickson for 5. James Fuller in his first game of the season picked up the next two wickets, both caught behind smartly by captain Brown. Archie Vaughan made 29 and Tom Lammonby 36. There was seam movement available off a greener looking wicket and overhead conditions also favoured the bowlers. Sadly, once the rain came, Hampshire were left frustrated with Somerset 6 down and struggling.

Day Two started at 11.30 and Wheal was soon in the wickets again, removing Overton caught behind. Next to go was the the last recognised batsman at 129-8: Tom Abell was adjudged lbw to Fuller who now had 3-20 in his first game back in the side this season. Sonny Baker had been forced to rest by the ECB which meant a welcome return to the side for the invaluable Fuller. The other big news this week that broke on the Hampshire Members’ Newsletter was an update on Keith Barker. He will return at the start of July, but rather than injury keeping him out, it is an enforced absence as a result of a 12 month suspension, imposed by the National Anti-Doping Panel. When he is available again, there will be serious competition for places; the current overseas professional, Brett Hampton, could well miss out on current form. In Fuller’s next over, he brought one back to Leach which again looked very adjacent,  as it swung back into the left-hander, prompting the umpire to again answer in the affirmative to reduce Somerset to 136-9. The last wicket pair really frustrated Hampshire adding 48, before Wheal finally removed Ogborne for 6 to finish with 4-46. It was his third four wicket haul in three consecutive games. Lunch was duly taken with Somerset all out for 184. 

The second session saw two Hampshire wickets fall for 116 runs. Both openers departed after getting starts with the score on 38. Gubbins and Prest then added 68 with few alarms, except for a very good lbw appeal against Prest from a no-ball by Pretorius to the first ball he faced. It was Prest, though, who went first after tea, for another very stylish 42 from 76 balls. Batting on or just outside off stump to the seamers, he was again able to access both sides of the wicket and keep the scoreboard moving before he was lbw to Pretorius - to a legal delivery. Liam Dawson came in at 5 ahead of Albert, at a time when the batting conditions were definitely at their best in the match so far. The sun was out and the wicket was looking increasingly straw coloured, rather than the greener tinge from the opening day. In that final session of the second day, Dawson had noticeable periods of aggression – best shown with four boundaries, including a pulled six behind square in back-to-back Ogborne overs – but, largely, he ground things out with Gubbins. It enforced a ball change, when the ball hit the concrete of the berm by the scoreboard on the Nursery side of the ground, but no breakthrough followed for Overton, Ogbourne, Pretorius or Aldridge. Gubbins reached another invaluable and calm half-century in 111 balls; Dawson then followed suit, in 92 balls, as Hampshire took the lead. Bad light ended proceedings seven overs early, with Gubbins unbeaten on 58, Dawson on 50. It is Liam’s 55th half-century in first-class cricket. Hampshire were building a very handy platform to hunt down batting bonus points, as well as hopefully amass a big first-innings lead on day three. The score at the close was 194-3 from 63 overs. 

On the third day it was the surprise inclusion in the attack of Tom Lammomby after 45 minutes with the old ball, bowling left-arm over, that began to pull Somerset back into a game that had been drifting away from them. He removed both overnight batsmen. Gubbins was out lbw, caught on the crease for 82. and Dawson then followed for 72, caught at backward point by Vaughan with the score on 256. Both were out looking to score quickly with a poor weather forecast for the remainder of the match. From there the innings fell way, and Pretorius mopped up the tail with the new ball. The 152 run lead was sizeable, but had threatened to be far more at the start of play. At least. Hampshire had secured their first two batting bonus points of the season when Wheal was last man out at 336.

For the Somerset second innings, an increasingly flat pitch and a more resolute top-order batting performance quelled any hopes of a quick Hampshire victory - and made the draw the favourite result, particularly with more rain forecast on the final day. Vaughan and Dickson’s opening partnership reached 50 for the first time this season with little fuss. Vaughan then departed after offering a catch up to deep square leg for the second game in a row. Dickson, however, battened down the hatches and refused to give away his wicket, having only managed a previous top score of 11 in five innings this season. He went on to reach his fourth fifty for Somerset in 108 balls, before bad light brought tea forward by 10 minutes. When the players belatedly returned, only four overs of spin were possible before the fading light again forced a premature close. Somerset finished on 103-1 in 35 overs, leaving Hampshire just 49 in front.

The fourth day was predominantly rained out after a similar amount of overs were possible as the first day - just 26.3. Far less incident also happened: the only wicket to fall was Lammonby, out caught off Abbott. Somerset finished a dozen runs ahead at 163-2 in a tame draw when the rain came to abandon play. Hampshire took 13 points (2 batting, 3 bowling and 8 for the draw), while Somerset took 10 points, having gained no batting points. As a result of all the poorer weather around the country this week, only one first division game saw a positive result: Essex scraped home by just 28 runs in a tight game at Chelmsford against Worcestershire.  The table makes very interesting reading after 3 games and ahead of a blank week next for Hampshire.

Team P W L D Pts

1 Notts 3 1 0 2 49

2 Sussex 3 1 0 2 49

3 Essex 3 1 0 2 49

4 Warwicks 3 1 0 2 46

5 Hampshire 3 1 0 2 43

6 Yorkshire 3 1 0 2 40

7 Surrey 3 0 0 3 38

8 Somerset 3 0 1 2 29

9 Durham 3 0 2 1 26

10 Worcs 3 0 2 1 15

Hampshire Women's Dramatic First Game at Edgbaston

Week Four:  Beginning Monday April 28th  2025

After the historic first three games in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, Hampshire Women head the table with 10 points, following two wins and the dramatic tie in the very first game at Edgbaston. Successive victories against Surrey at home and Lancashire away at Southport put Hampshire top ahead of Lancashire, The Blaze and Somerset all on 9 points. The latest victory saw opener Ella McCaughan make a sensational senior career best 133 not out off 141 balls, as Hampshire chased down 293 to beat early-season pace-setters Lancashire by eight wickets in a high-scoring game played in hot sunshine.

The Red Rose had won their opening two games and looked well placed for another win, with Eve Jones and Emma Lamb - who made 107 and 86 respectively - sharing 185 inside 32 overs for the first wicket. But they stumbled late in their innings and finished on 292 for six, including two wickets for the off spin of Australian Charli Knott. Indeed, all of those six Lancashire wickets fell to spin, aided by the very impressive Wicketkeeper Rhianna Southby who  claimed three leg side stumpings.

In Hampshire’s reply Maia Bouchier was stumped off Morris’ off-spin for 77 at 137 for one in the 25th over. McCaughan and Knott then strengthened Hampshire’s position, sharing 122 inside 18 overs for the second wicket. Hampshire won at a canter by 8 wickets with three overs of the 50 remaining. 

In the very first game against Warwickshire, both teams made 208. Southby hit 72 off 95 balls in Hampshire’s chase, which saw Poppy Tullich run out at the bowler’s end off the very last ball of the 50th over, trying to complete the winning run. Earlier Linsey Smith had taken 4-39 in Hampshire Women’s first ever 50 overs in the field. The first home game brought the first ever win - by a convincing 50 runs - over Surrey. Bouchier and McCaughan again laid the platform with an opening stand of 116 in just 21.4 overs.

Hampshire’s men are without a game this week. Surrey, Notts and Durham all won to leave Hampshire 7th, still on 43 points from 3 games. Notts are top and Surrey second - on 70 and 60 points - both from 4 games.

Liam Dawson takes yet another 5-for in dull Durham draw

Week Five:  Beginning Monday May 5th 2025

Travelling down on the train to the Durham game gives me the chance to start reading this year’s Wisden. A few interesting observations in the Editorial include the fact that of all the 53 Tests played in 2024 only three were drawn (two of which were severely rain affected), and the supposition made by the Tasmanian statistician Ric Finlay that four for 61 is the equivalent of making a century in Test Cricket. He has undertaken some interesting research on the relative value of hundreds (4,521) and five-fors (3,290)  in Test Cricket. On the subject of all The Hundred money potentially flooding in to the domestic game, the jury remains very much out for some if not all of the 18 counties and their supporters. Laurence Booth concludes in his 2025 Wisden Editorial, “We are heading for utopia or dystopia, depending on your point of view.”

Hampshire make two changes, bringing in Baker and Organ for Fuller and Hampton. Durham are without their rising star Ben McKinney. The key player for the visitors on Day One, after they won the toss and elected to bat, was Graham Clark who celebrated his fifth Rothesay County Championship century with a very controlled innings to put Durham in charge at the close. Having been 82 for four, it was Clark who rebuilt the innings in fine batting conditions, with partnerships of 124 with Ollie Robinson, who scored 76, and 124 unbroken with George Drissell - who reached the close on 58 not out. Clark ended the day unbeaten on 110, with Durham following up their victory over Worcestershire, by finishing on 330 for five under the sun at Utilita Bowl.

For Hampshire - as is so often the case - Kyle Abbott was the star of the morning session, as his three wickets reduced Durham to 80-3 at the interval. This was on a wicket previously used in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition and drying out further under perfect blue skies. The dismissal of Lees, who was bowled from a delivery that was from slightly wider on the crease, swung the session Hampshire’s way. Ackerman then followed, caught behind off Wheal, but from that point on it was Durham’s day. First innings runs will definitely be crucial for Hampshire, in order to have a real chance of staying very competitive in this game.

The second day was also played in hot sunshine and Durham were able to press home their advantage, although the run rate never exceeds 3 and half runs per over in any point of their innings. When they were finally dismissed after 148.2 overs, the score was 511. Graham Clark made a career best 160, while Wisden Cricketer of Year, Liam Dawson, claimed the fifteenth five-for of his illustrious Hampshire career. Scoreboard pressure was more of a challenge than the pitch for Hampshire who get through to the close 112-1, with Mark Stoneman handily placed against his former county on 54 not out. 

On the third day, Durham certainly edged the first session with the three wickets of Stoneman, Prest and Gubbins all caught behind by Cox. Stoneman made 57 before Potts dismissed him, while Prest (1) and Gubbins (77) succumbed to the spin of Parkinson and Drissell.

Hampshire go in at the interval on 216-4 in 77 overs with Brown. promoted in the order to 5, unbeaten on 33. Despite the lack of draws in Test Cricket over the past twelve months, as highlighted earlier in this piece, this game already looked nailed on to be a tame and unexciting stalemate with five sessions still to go. Hampshire certainly can't win from here, but need to get through the second new ball to edge much closer to first innings parity. Captain Brown was very much in charge of the ship and remained unbeaten through the next two sessions. At the close, he finished 143 not out. Durham were held up mainly by a record seventh wicket partnership for Hampshire in this fixture, between Brown and Organ of 164; it smashes the previous record (84) previously held by Michael Brown and Shane Warne set in 2007 at Chester-le-Street.

The fourth day saw Hampshire concede a deficit of just 44 runs. Brown is eventually dismissed for 162. His vigil in saving the game lasted 275 balls. Hampshire batted for very nearly 155 overs on an extremely unresponsive pitch. The players shook hands with Durham crawling along at 61-0 in 25 overs on a pitch that offered nothing for seam or spin. It was not a game to live long in the memory, sadly, as only 20 wickets fell in a match from which Hampshire took 12 points and Durham 13. 

Team P W L D Pts

1 Notts 4 2 0 2 70

2 Warwicks 4 2 0 2 66

3 Surrey 4 1 0 3 60

4 Durham 5 1 2 2 58

5 Hampshire 4 1 0 3 55

6 Sussex 4 1 1 2 52

7 Somerset 5 1 2 2 52

8 Essex 4 1 1 2 50

9 Yorkshire 4 1 2 1 42

10 Worcs 4 0 3 1 18

Mo Abbas torments Hampshire at Trent Bridge

Week Six:  Beginning Monday May 12th 2025

The wicket for this week's four day game at Trent Bridge was very different. Hampshire could have no complaints, for it was so much better in providing a more even contest between bat and ball. Hampshire won the toss, selected the extra seamer in  Fuller - ahead of the unlucky Organ - and elected to bowl on a greenish looking wicket. Abbott's first delivery of the game to Hameed was still being talked about by supporters at lunch: it took the edge, high up on the bat, and may just have been a chance to slip; either way, it went to the boundary for four. The replays on the livestream were inconclusive and neither commentator, Dave Bracegirdle or Kevin James, were quite sure whether it was a life for Hameed. The first few overs saw far more deliveries beat the bat than in the whole of the four days at Southampton in the previous game, as well as two spilled chances which went straight to Albert at second slip and then Prest at first slip. They were also both off Abbott. The amount of bounce and carry through to the keeper suggested a very good wicket with definitely more grass having been left on it. It was James Fuller who made the breakthrough: Slater, first to go, was caught at cover and then fellow opener, Hameed, was caught behind. Fuller had 2-12 at lunch, with Notts 82-4. The other two wickets were richly deserved by Kyle Abbott who finished the first session with 2-18 from his 10.3 overs. 

The afternoon session all belonged to Notts. They advanced to 195-5 off 64 overs, with McCann 72 not out. Hampshire’s only wicket came when Abbott trapped Verreynne for 33. Local lad and England Lions prospect McCann duly completed a well-deserved hundred in the final session, when he reverse swept Dawson to the fence. He was last man out out, caught at deep point on the boundary edge by Middleton for an excellent 138, but not before Abbott had claimed yet another five-for in Hampshire colours. In only his 13th innings in first-class cricket, McCann made his third First Division Championship hundred. He is one for the future for certain; tall, solid, equipped with a range of shots which means he can manoeuvre the field and clearly able to score runs on a wicket which offers plenty to the bowlers. It could well prove to be the match-defining innings. Abbott, meanwhile, ended the innings with 5-57. It could, of course, have been much better than that, if the four missed slip chances had been held. Notts final total of 333 in 91.1 overs gave them the advantage on a pitch which offered both pace and bounce. 

Day Two again saw Notts press home that advantage. Chief destroyer, not unsurprisingly, and bowling with typically metronomic accuracy and control - initially from the Ratcliffe Road End and then from the Stuart Broad End - was Mo Abbas. Apart from the five cheap wickets that he took, he also passed the bat on numerous occasions and reminded all Hampshire supporters of what a truly outstanding bowler he still is in the First Division. Either side of the lunch break, Abbas struck: from a competitive 92 for three, he reduced Hampshire to 106 for 7, with the follow-on now a very likely prospect. The fact it was avoided was all due to an onslaught from Kyle Abbott, batting at nine, who smashed 67 off 51 balls. His half century came up off just 36 balls and, when he was out caught at long on, his fighting knock included eight 4’s and three 6’s. Hampshire trailed by 137 - one run short of the amount McCann made for Notts the day before. 

The second half of the day had two distinct phases when Notts batted. This was very much a new ball pitch with life and movement, so  Abbott and company were very much back in business. Just after tea, Notts were in real trouble at 84-6. The wickets were shared amongst all four seamers. The final ninety minutes were very frustrating for Hampshire, not least because the pitch seem to flatten out again: Haynes (60 not out) and Patterson-White (44 not out) added 87 by the close. This left Hampshire with a mountain to climb going into the last two of the game. Faced with the prospect of having to score the highest number of runs in the final innings to win against the league leaders - on a pitch where Abbas in particular would remain a real threat throughout - meant it was Notts who held nearly all the aces on Saturday evening. 

Day Three was just one of those days when you have to hold your hands up and accept that you have been outplayed; missed chances in the field have ultimately proved very costly. Both Jack Haynes and Liam Patterson-White made centuries, adding 238 for the seventh-wicket. It smashed the previous record of 115 for Notts against Hampshire, set back in 1954 between K Smales and G Goonesena at Trent Bridge. It was also 36 runs more than Hampshire's seventh-wicket record partnership against Notts, again set at Trent Bridge back in 1974, between Barry Richards and Mike Taylor. That game is featured in the My Favourite Hampshire game series (Number 17) on this website, as chosen by Hampshire seamer Bob Herman who played in that game. Haynes was eventually run out from a Sonny Baker throw for 120, while Patterson-White went on to a career-best 135. The left-arm spinning all-rounder hit 21 fours and two sixes in Notts 345 all out. 

Set 483 to win, Hampshire collapsed to 82-9. The biggest surprise was that Mo Abbas bowled six wicketless overs in an innings where all the damage was done by Lyndon James (five for 22) and Brett Hutton (four for 56). It could have been Hampshire's biggest ever defeat in terms of runs margin at that point. In the end, with Baker and Abbott adding 34 for the tenth wicket, it was the fourth worst - with the final result being that Notts won by 366 runs. The highest remains 384, which was Essex's margin of victory in the Division Two game at the Rose Bowl in August 2004. This was the game where opener Will Jefferson made 222, against an attack that included Shane Warne. The only other two larger defeats by runs margins are much further back: they were the 380 against Surrey at Southampton in 1896 and the 370-run defeat against Yorkshire at Leeds in 1904. Notts' current win was their second largest ever against any county - where the number of runs records the margin of victory. Despite the collapse and poor performance overall, except for Kyle Abbott who had another fine game with ball and bat, this was only Hampshire's second Championship defeat in 21 games. It is a run stretching back to the end of 2023. It leaves Hampshire very much mid-table, with a difficult looking next assignment, up at Edgbaston, against a Warwickshire side who made 665-5 declared against Champions Surrey this weekend. Notts lead the table with three wins and two draws, but four of their first five games have been at Trent Bridge. 

Team P W L D Pts

1 Notts 5 3 0 2 91

2 Warwicks 4 2 0 2 66

3 Surrey 4 1 0 3 60

4 Hampshire 5 1 1 3 58

5 Durham 5 1 2 2 58

6 Sussex 4 1 1 2 52

7 Somerset 5 1 2 2 52

8 Essex 4 1 1 2 50

9 Yorkshire 4 1 2 1 42

10 Worcs 4 0 3 1 18

On a much more positive note, Hampshire Women beat Essex in the West End sunshine by 17 runs in their latest Metro Bank One-Day Cup game. Captain Georgia Adams led the way with 110*, while Rhianna Southby chipped in with 61 in Hampshire's 273-5 from 50 overs. Despite a century from Essex's skipper, Grace Scrivens, Hampshire ran out winners again to stay top of the table with 19 points from 6 games. Linsey Smith took 4-33 from her 10 overs, in Essex's reply of 256-8 from their 50 overs. 

Hampshire back to winning ways at Edgbaston

Week Seven:  Beginning Monday May 19th 2025

First hour impressions from the wonderful vantage point of the Tom Dollery Suite in the Members' Section of the Pavilion are that it is a good toss to win at Edgbaston, particularly after last week's heavy defeat. It is either one or four on one side of the wicket and a potential all-run four on the other. From the City End, Hannon-Dalby’s height and lack of pace continues to make him a tricky customer year on year and Hampshire probably need to score 450 in this first innings. After all, this was the ground where Warwickshire made over 600 - with four separate centurions - batting first against champions Surrey just last week. Missing from the scorecard originally to be replaced by Orr, Fletcha Middleton retains his place, but is out in the third over. His place in the side has never more been in doubt, sadly. As well as the sirens from the city in the background, there is a school playground hubbub from the Übereats Family Stand - square of the wicket on the short side - where at least five or six large parties of primary school children are clearly relishing a day out of the classroom. Warwickshire are to be applauded for a fine initiative, giving so many clearly excited children a new experience today. Indeed, they wake a few members up when Gubbins pushes a drive out towards them and they rise in unison, urging the ball to reach the fence. The irony of the Hollies on the opposite side being virtually deserted and silent is not lost on me. 

Hampshire went to lunch having lost Middleton, Gubbins and Prest. Hannon-Dalby again struck the next blow after the interval, when the obdurate Stoneman (48 off 106 balls) gave Davies his third catch. Next to go was Ben Brown, who dragged a drive at Webster on to his stumps, leaving Hampshire in trouble on 130 for five, Liam Dawson and Toby Albert dug in to add 68 in 19 overs, before Dawson edged Barnard high to second slip and Albert flicked Tazeem Ali to mid-wicket. At 223 for eight, Hampshire appeared well under par, but the tail wagged and got the score up to exactly 300. Warwickshire were left with eight overs to bat, during which Hampshire fought back well. Yates  was trapped lbw by Abbott and, with just 16 balls left in the day, skipper Davies top-edged an inexplicable heave at Wheal and Middleton took an excellent catch, running in from deep backward point.

Kyle Abbbott soon struck on Day Two with two wickets in the first ten minutes, bringing Sam Hain to the crease. Out of form, he was given three lives, compounding Hampshire’s current fielding woes. Unusually, he didn’t make Hampshire pay and the Warwickshire innings fell away as Abbott completed his 30th five-for. He is a man very much at the top of his game. Hampshire’s lead was just over 100, which seemed most unlikely 24 hours earlier. In Hampshire’s second innings, the ball continued to move around and wickets soon fell. With the notable absence of Middleton, who struck three early boundaries, none of the other top six batters were able to pass 15. Mark Stoneman again edged Hannon-Dalby to first slip, Bamber removed Nick Gubbins and Tom Prest, before Webster removed Ben Brown, lbw, and Liam Dawson, caught  - with one that took off from a length - at second slip, in the space of just three balls. The lead was now just over 200, with Hampshire 99 for five, and looking in danger of relinquishing their advantage. Crucially, the youngsters, Middleton and  Albert, added 52 in 15 overs to wrest back the initiative. Albert's 29 not out off 52 balls was the second time he made important runs in the match, while Middleton reached a vital 50. It came off just 71 balls and was a huge innings personally, as well as for the team. In the sixth game, it was his first half-century this season. Sadly, he was bowled by Simmons just before the close, by one that seemed to keep low, on a pitch which definitely examines the batters’ powers of concentration and technique. Bowled, lbw and caught behind have been the most common modes of dismissal on a pitch offering lateral movement and increasingly differing amounts of bounce. 275 ahead at the close, with four wickets left, has set the game up very nicely for a close finish. 

Hampshire’s second innings closed relatively early on Day Three on 203, leaving Warwickshire a testing target of 310 to win. It would need to be the highest score in the match in the fourth innings, if Warwickshire can pull it off. Beau Webster took four for 57 and Bamber four for 60 in Hampshire's second innings. After Wheal and Fuller went early, Abbott pulled Bamber for six in a handy run-a-ball stand of 32 with Toby Albert who finished with 43. Abbott always looks to gain the advantage and put the opposition under pressure with bat or ball in hand. For Warwickshire to win, they have to try and see him off. It simply and predictably doesn't happen. They were reduced to 10 for two after just three overs, when Rob Yates lost his off stump and Tom Latham edged a ball - that was angled in and then left him - to wicketkeeper Ben Brown. Abbott's ability to bowl equally well to left-handers from around the wicket is brilliant to watch.  Alex Davies now offers the key threat to Hampshire. He is one of the most attacking and effective openers on the circuit, scoring freely on both sides of the wicket. Indeed, when Davies and Sam Hain added 68 in 24 overs, a good finish looked a likely prospect. Hain perished, though, when he offered no shot to an Abbott in-ducker and was lbw after lunch.

Hampshire still needed wickets from both ends, and up stepped James Fuller at this point. After Davies reached a 66-ball half-century, he was then among the lbw casualties trapped by Fuller in a fine spell from the Pavilion End. Webster, Davies and Ed Barnard all went within 12 Fuller balls. Reduced to 126 for six, Warwickshire needed something special from their lower order in a game which had so far yielded just one half-century in each of the previous three innings. Zen Malik soon succumbed in the leg side trap off Turner, to an excellent juggled catch by Abbott, coming in off the fine leg fence. There was still time, however, for Ethan Bamber and Che Simmons to add 43 in 17 overs before Fuller returned to claim his well-deserved five-for by removing both: Bamber edged behind again and Simmons lofted to long leg. The last rites were completed when Turner flattened Olly Hannon-Dalby’s off-stump.

Hampshire had completed a much-needed and confidence boosting win on a testing wicket against an in-form side with a strong attack. Abbott has been the stand-out individual in every game this season, but he received good support from Fuller in particular on Day Three. The fielding remains a concern for players and coaches alike. Watching the players warm up, it is clearly not for lack of specialised practice. Thankfully most nicks went to the keeper in this game, but Warwickshire certainly looked a stronger slip cordon unit. In nearly every other facet of the game, they were outplayed by Hampshire. Spin played virtually no part. This was especially surprising, with Rob Yates having been introduced into the attack by captain Davies for the twelfth over on that first morning, presumably with Warwickshire expecting turn and bounce from the off. In the end, seam was king. Warwickshire had the extra height with Webster and Hannon-Dalby who both extracted good bounce and carry. In the end, though, it was Abbott's unrelenting accuracy, late movement and mastery of length that set the tone. For both Middleton and Albert, who must have felt under real pressure coming into this game, it is also very much a match to remember in their career progression. The runs they made against a fine attack on a wicket offering a good deal will make it an especially sweet win. Other winners in this round of matches included bottom side Worcestershire (over Essex), Durham (against leaders Notts) and Surrey (versus Yorkshire). Interestingly, Durham are above Hants in the table, despite losing a game more, by virtue of the extra batting points that they have secured in the first six matches.  

Team P W L D Pts

1 Notts 6 3 1 2 96

2 Surrey 6 2 0 4 93

3 Warwicks 6 2 1 3 82

4 Durham 6 2 2 2 80

5 Hants 6 2 1 3 79

6 Sussex 6 2 2 2 75

7 Somerset 6 2 2 2 73

8 Essex 6 1 2 3 64

9 Yorkshire 6 1 3 2 56

10 Worcs 6 1 4 1 43

On Monday 19th May, Hampshire Women beat Warwickshire Women in the Arundel sunshine by 3 wickets and with 4 balls to spare in their latest Metro Bank One-Day Cup game. Australian Charli Knott top-scored with 82 from just 88 balls in Hampshire's reply to the Bears' 243-7 in 50 overs. She was supported by Georgia Adams with 68, The wickets earlier were shared around, while Abbey Freeborn made 94*, batting at 5 for Warwickshire. Hampshire's 6th win of the season means we stay top of the table with 27 points from eight games. Lancashire are second with 26 points and The Blaze remain third with 20 from their seven games.

Hampshire sunk by one partnership against Sussex

Week Eight:  Beginning Monday May 26th 2025

The final round of Championship matches before the start of the one-day season (and the Vitality Blast) sees the first local south coast derby of the season. It was the 200th first-class game between Hampshire and Sussex, but only the second in the last ten years. During the COVID season in 2020, they played at Hove and Sussex won by 94 runs. The record books show that Hampshire’s last win in this fixture came in the game before that, back in June 2015, and again at Hove. 

Hampshire won the toss and duly lost Stoneman to the fourth ball of the day, caught at slip off the Australian Nathan McAndrew. The wicket looked green, with noticeably more grass on it and clearly prepared to keep the bowlers interested for the next four days. Hampshire went to lunch at 93-4 from 29 overs, with Middleton, Gubbins and Prest all back in the pavilion. Yet again, scoring 450 within 110 overs to claim maximum batting points seems an impossible ask in this first innings. There have been so few occasions this season when any other county side has achieved that, to be fair, but certainly Hampshire, more than most, are constantly short of even 350 and the accompanying 3 out of the 5 batting points available. The wickets have clearly played their part and this one is no exception in the quest to produce a positive result wicket. It already looks like a three day pitch. The second session was very much a game of two halves. Dawson and Brown added 61, before calamity struck in the form of Henry Crocombe playing his first red ball game of the season. 130-4 after 41 overs became 154 all out in the space of just over 10 overs. There were five ducks in the list of 10 dismissed players. Crucially, Fuller and Abbott were two of those which meant there was no counter attack possible. Crocombe bowled three of his four victims and returned figures of 4-27 from his 10 very threatening overs. Hampshire are way short of even 1 batting point, but captain Brown continued his fine Utilita Bowl form with 53* 

The wickets then kept falling when Sussex batted. This time it was Turner who posed the biggest challenge. At 83-5, Hampshire have fought themselves very much back into contention. Only Alsop with 30 offered any resistance, until captain John Simpson joined Hudson-Prentice; they stayed for 94 balls to reach 110-5 at the close. Crucially, Simpson had been dropped first ball and how he made Hampshire pay on Day Two. The new morning brought overhead conditions seemingly ideal for swing bowling. It proved to be the decisive session in the match, however, as Simpson and Hudson-Prentice dug in, left well, played with soft hands, found the gaps and took advantage of any width. The third man area was particularly productive for both men who showed you needed sound defence and real concentration. Both reached half-centuries before lunch: Simpson's came up in 111 balls, while Hudson-Prentice reached his 50 in 116 balls. 

Everything they did made the bowling look less threatening, and if a wicketless first session was frustrating for Hampshire, the afternoon was to be even more deflating, due to some poor close to the wicket catching. This has definitely been something that has marred the season thus far, with numerous chances going down in the last few weeks. Hudson-Prentice was put down by a regulation catch at first slip on 51, and then again at midwicket on 70, before he was finally pinned lbw, as Brad Wheal found success with the new ball. The 173 run partnership  gave Sussex all the momentum in the match. New batsman, Jack Carson, was then dropped, while on nought, at square leg. After taking 18 deliveries to get off the mark, he soon became a fluent partner for Simpson, who made his 18th first-class century and the third of this campaign already. On a pitch where wickets have fallen in clusters, the last four Sussex wickets fell in just 11 balls, leaving Simpson stranded at the other end. James Fuller trapped Carson leg before and then castled Nathan McAndrew, before Liam Dawson finished things off by getting Ari Karvelas caught at first slip and Henry Crocombe lbw. Sussex were three runs shy of a second batting point, but crucially had now claimed a 143-run first-innings lead. 

What followed was a second procession of Hampshire wickets, with nobody in the top order able to dig in like Simpson had done earlier. Fletcha Middleton was adjudged leg-before for 32 to Hudson-Prentice, with the score on 38, before Mark Stoneman, Nick Gubbins and Tom Prest then all departed within 13 deliveries. Ben Brown, unbeaten in the first innings, was bowled by a flighted delivery from Carson, leaving Hampshire still 53 in arrears and already 5 down. Just before the close, Toby Albert, attempting to sweep, was also bowled by Carson to add to what amounted to another very lacklustre day for the home side.

Going into Day Three on 114 for six, Hampshire were still 29 runs short of making Sussex bat again. When that did happen, they only needed 23 to win; the game was over before lunch with five sessions remaining. Jack Carson finished with a five-wicket haul, having found more turn and bounce on a lively wicket. It was Sussex’s third win of the season, on their return to Division One, and 20 very welcome points. In stark contrast, for Hampshire, it was their first home defeat in the Championship since July 2023. It was also only their fourth Championship loss at the Utilita Bowl since April 2019. Heading into the Vitality Blast portion of the season, Hampshire are seventh in the table. The second half of the campaign could still either be a relegation fight or title tilt. For the latter to happen, far more catches will need to be taken and regular top order runs will be a must. The current haul of six batting bonus points in the first block is only better than bottom-side Worcestershire, with only Ben Brown averaging over 40. Just two centuries - by Brown and Gubbins - highlights the absence of Vince. His return in the coming weeks for the T20 is much awaited, although it will not solve the aforementioned red-ball batting issues. It is to be hoped that Tom Prest, in particular, can use the shorter format to spend time in the middle with James and kick start his summer. The next four Championship games in June and July see us play top side Notts at home, bottom side Worcestershire home and away, as well as a trip to Essex, in eighth place, at Chelmsford for the next match.

Team P W L D Pts

1 Notts 7 4 1 2 115

2 Surrey 7 2 0 5 105

3 Sussex 7 3 2 2 95

4 Warwicks 7 2 1 4 93

5 Somerset 7 3 2 2 92

6 Durham 7 2 3 2 84

7 Hampshire 7 2 2 3 82

8 Essex 7 1 2 4 75

9 Yorkshire 7 1 4 2 59

10 Worcs 7 1 4 2 54

Hampshire Women are still top of the table in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, as thir Vitality Blast campaign starts with the double header against Essex this Friday the 30th at the Utilita Bowl.

Hampshire Men and Women both post well over 200 in opening T20 wins over Essex

Week Nine:  Beginning Monday June 2nd 2025

The Hampshire Hawks Men's team named a 13-player squad for their first Vitality Blast match of the 2025 campaign at home against Essex. It was a double-header following the Women’s first T20 game of the season. All-rounder Scott Currie was available again, returning to the club after his loan out to Leicestershire in 2024 and having recovered from an injury sustained in the winter. New signing Bjorn Fortuin was not due to join up with the team for the first away game against Surrey, whilst Lhuan-dre Pretorius was now unavailable, due to his selection for South Africa A against West Indies A. 

Meanwhile, in front of a sizeable crowd, the other very exciting overseas signing, Dewald Brevis, quickly introduced himself to Hampshire Hawks fans in true style: he launched two huge sixes in his first three scoring shots, batting at three. He went on to smash a dazzling 68 off just 32 balls in Hampshire’s statement 230-7. This was a total only bettered by the 249 they scored in the Quarter-Final against Derbyshire in 2017. It was also 106 runs too many for Essex. Earlier Hampshire Women had posted over 200 for the first time ever in their very convincing win by 25 runs over the same opponents.

Brevis played that well on debut that he upstaged two other very fine innings by both Hampshire openers. James Vince was in imperious form from ball one. He raced to fifty in just 25 balls, with an array of boundaries either side of the wicket which combined customary power with trademark timing and placement. The crowd of 8,139 were understandably thrilled to see him back, making 62 from just 31 balls. His partner, Toby Albert, also reached his half century in quick time and departed for a very well made 54 with the score already on 177. He was the perfect foil for both Vince and Brevis. Where the former had earlier dealt in elegant fours, Brevis cleared the boundary time and again by some distance, either straight or on the leg side. At least one of the half dozen of his huge sixes came one-handed.

Michael Pepper’s 51 was the only significant contribution in Essex’s innings, as they fell over 100 runs short, with Liam Dawson bowling three of his victims and finishing with four for 26. Scott Currie in his first game back took three for 20. It was Hampshire’s largest ever T20 win (by runs) on the ground. Essex’s chase had begun in the worst possible way, when Dean Elgar was run out in the first over at the bowler’s end by a sensational Vince direct hit from mid-off. The only area to address in future games - in another tough-looking Southern Group again this year - was that Hampshire’s recent catching malaise in the Championship followed them to the Blast: four chances went down in the Twenty overs.Thankfully, none of them cost too much. In every other regard, though, this was a textbook performance from a Hampshire side containing 9 former academy graduates in this first game. 

For the Women, in their huge total of 215-3, Maia Bouchier and Ella McCaughan put on 158 runs together for the first wicket. While Bouchier hammered 92 off 53 balls, McCaughan smashed 68 in 39 balls. It was a brutal batting display by both on a fine track for hitting through the line. Only Lauren Winfield-Hill, on loan from Yorkshire, made 69 in reply, but this couldn’t prevent Essex from finishing 25 runs short, in front of 4,378 spectators. This was the highest recorded crowd for a non-Hundred or international women’s match at the Utilita Bowl. They were duly rewarded by a Hampshire Women's Team playing consistently entertaining cricket so far this summer.

Hampshire's Liam Dawson is Man of the Match in England's First T20 International

Week Nine:  Beginning Monday June 9th 2025

Whilst Jos Buttler (96) hit his second-highest T20 knock for England at Chester-le-Street against the West Indies on Friday June 6th, it was Hampshire's Liam Dawson who claimed the Man of the Match Award - as chosen by the Sky Sports commentators. On his recall to England duty, Liam took four wickets in his first international game for 2½ years. England beat West Indies by 21 runs to make it four wins out of four for Harry Brook as England’s permanent white-ball captain. In defence of their total of 188 for six, England had picked just two seamers and four spinners; the pick of whom was Liam Dawson, who was entrusted with the first over in the Powerplay from the Lumley End. He conceded only four from the first over, setting the tone by firing the ball through quickly and giving nothing away width wise. Having then been switched to the other end for the fourth over, Liam held one back skilfully with more flight to draw Johnson Charles down the pitch. Deceived by the turn off the pitch, it gave Buttler a comfortable stumping. Sherfane Rutherford, another left-hander, fell in similar fashion to the first ball of the 11th over, deceived in the flight by Dawson, before Roston Chase holed out to the ever reliable Ben Duckett at long off in the same over. With West Indies 100 for five, Liam then picked up his fourth wicket, by pushing a quicker ball through Rovman Powell’s defence to remove the off stump. His 4 wickets for just 20 runs - with 14 dots - meant that the game was as good as over as a contest. In the time between Liam Dawson's 20th and 21st international caps, eleven men have bowled spin for England. As well as the MoM award, he received a ringing endorsement from new skipper Brook, “He’s been knocking on the door a while, having him and Rash bowling in tandem is going to be good to watch. He’s extremely experienced, he can help younger lads along the way. To have him around is going to really help us.”

A day before Liam's England exploits, Hampshire thrashed Surrey in a rain-affected T20 game. This victory was only their second win in the last 11 meetings at home or away against Surrey in the Vitality Blast. When heavy rain brought an early close to the game at the Kia Oval, Hampshire were a very comfortable 15 runs ahead, under the Duckworth Lewis Stern method, with all ten wickets in hand. Tight, accurate bowling from Scott Currie (2-17) and Chris Wood (2-27) restricted the home side to a below par 141-7. Jason Roy top-scored for Surrey for the third time this season with 37, but at only just better than a run a ball, while neither Sam Curran nor Laurie Evans were able to cut loose in making 34 and 33 not out respectively. Joe Weatherley held on to three fine catches on the extra cover boundary when Hampshire turned the screw with the ball. All the bowlers stuck to their plans, consistently bowling the right line and length to all the Surrey batsmen. In reply, Hampshire were simply cruising at 63-0 off 8.2 overs, before the the rain became too heavy. Skipper James Vince was 33 not out, from 28 balls, and in-form opening partner Toby Albert was unbeaten on 28 from just 22. Surrey had been outplayed in all three disciplines. 

The fine win in South London was backed up a day later with another victory over 2024 Vitality Blast Champions Gloucestershire. This time it was John Turner who led an outstanding Hampshire Hawks bowling performance with three for 28, aided by Chris Wood, Scott Currie and Benny Howell who all claimed two wickets each at under five runs an over to restrict Gloucestershire to just 119. Remarkably, Hampshire only conceded nine fours and a single six in the entire innings on the same wicket which saw over 700 runs made in the double header just last week. The two wickets Chris Wood took were the ones that meant he went past two hundred for Hampshire in T20 cricket. He is very likely to become the leading wicket taker of all time this summer in this competition: he needs just half a dozen more to go past former England and Nottinghamshire's Samit Patel. Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the whole performance was the standard of the fielding. Just like the bowling, it was also exemplary. Unusually, all 10 wickets were caught: four of these were taken by Benny Howell in the covers, which equalled Hampshire’s joint highest in the Blast. On the back of 54 and 28 not out in the first two games, Toby Albert, looked at his most confident with ramps, back foot punches through the covers and switch hits square. Thanks to Albert, Hampshire made very light work chasing down the runs needed. The target was reached in exactly 15 overs and Toby trooped off with a personal best of 73 in just 44 balls. It is now the first time in eight seasons that Hampshire have won their first three matches in a T20 Blast season. Gloucestershire, meanwhile, have still never won a T20 match at the Utilita Bowl.

If the team were in a real groove at this point, the trip to Canterbury brought a reality check for game four. Hampshire chose to bat, but in no time were 29-3. James Vince went in the second over, caught by Wes Agar off Tom Rogers for six after a miscue, before Fred Klaassen then got out of form Tom Prest for a four-ball duck. Worse was to follow when Toby Albert pulled Rogers straight to Tawanda Muyeye at square leg for 18. Joe Weatherley then batted very responsibly against the club he had played for on loan, hitting an unbeaten 63 from 46 deliveries (including five 4's and two 6's), to see Hampshire to 177 for seven at the halfway mark. It felt 15-20 runs light and that proved the case, especially with the Hawks having the slight misfortune to run into a fully armed and firing Zak Crawley in his final game of the tournament before joining up with the Test squad. The England man looked imperious on both sides of the wicket. He hit 75 off 43 balls, including three sixes, and he enjoyed a stand of 110 with Daniel Bell-Drummond, who made 61 from 40. Despite the defeat, Hampshire still head the nine-team table with 12 points from 4 games and a very healthy run rate of +2.322. They are joined by Sussex and Somerset (3 wins from 3) on 12 points. 

Hampshire Women suffered a very narrow 1 run defeat (DLS Method) on Saturday against Durham at Arundel. When the rain came at 33-2 in the sixth over, chasing 119-6, it marked a painful loss, particularly as Maia Bouchier was going well on 22 not out. After 5 games, Hampshire Women have 8 points and sit in 5th place in the nine-team table, but with all certainly still to play for to ensure further progress in this new competition. Leaders Surrey are unbeaten on 18 points, having overpowered Hampshire at the Kia Oval on Thursday afternoon. Despite another very fine knock from opener Ella McCaughan - 81 off just 50 balls - Hampshire fell 32 runs short of Surrey's imposing 213-4 in their twenty overs. Surrey's very strong batting line-up would seem to make them the overall favourites, but T20 cricket can, of course, be a great leveller especially when 3 or more wickets are lost in the Powerplay.   

In the absence of any four-day cricket for a month, there are two reminders of that format this week: firstly, Hampshire fast bowler Kyle Abbott has just been voted the PCA Men’s Player of the Month for May 2025. Kyle, who is now into his ninth season with the club, picked up 20 wickets, at an average of just 15.9, during the four rounds in May of the Rothesay County Championship. This included the two five-wicket hauls at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston. The 37-year-old also scored 129 runs, including a belligerent 67 against Nottinghamshire, where despite match figures of 8-119, the game still ended in a very heavy defeat against the current Division One League leaders.

The second more general and far-reaching reason why the County Championship is in the news this week is because it has emerged that the counties are set to discuss three options for definite changes to the domestic structure and calendar, starting in April 2026. Option one is largely similar to the current status quo, still with two divisions of ten and eight teams, promotion and relegation. The one change with this first option is the possibility that the top division — if it remains at ten teams — would be split in the second half of the season, with the top five playing each other to give a period of “best v best” matches to decide the County Championship Division One title. The bottom five at the half way point of the season would then all play each other from late June onwards in the battle to avoid relegation. 

The second option for consideration is an expanded top division of 12 teams, split into two groups of six, who would play all the teams in the other group home and away. Promotion and relegation (with a smaller second division of six teams) would then be decided by play-offs, as well as a Final in September to determine the winners of the County Championship. 

The remaining third option is not too dissimilar and based on a previous model called the Bob Willis Trophy, which was played for in the summer of 2020 during Covid. It would again involve three separate conferences of six teams (evenly mixed from existing Division One and Two sides), all of whom have a chance of winning the County Championship from the start of the season. Ten matches in the main season would then again be followed in September by play-offs and the final. Whichever way it works out, more change is imminent, although, regrettably for this writer, there is scant chance of any return to red-ball cricket being played in August during the main bulk of the school holidays.