Alsop & Dawson Shine In T20 Triumph

Tom Alsop scored an impressive 85 runs off 57 balls to set up a thrilling 83-run victory over Somerset by 83 runs in the NatWest T20 Blast, sealed by a superb Liam Dawson five-fer at the The Ageas Bowl. 

Alsop and Academy debutant Jake Goodwin (32) compiled an opening stand of 83 runs, smashing a succession of boundaries in an entertaining partnership, before Hampshire's bowlers wiped out the visitors for just 98 runs.

Dawson led a fierce Hants bowling attack and took five wickets for 17 runs, his career-best T20 figures, to decimate Somerset's batting line-up, which included the likes of Jim Allenby (40) and Adam Hose (4), on a memorable night at the The Ageas Bowl.  

20-year-old Tom Alsop and 18-year-old Jake Goodwin ended a fearless powerplay on 62-0, having smashed Somerset’s bowlers for a series of fours and maximums - Alsop ended the six over period with a ferocious maximum. 

The duo’s freedom at the crease was an encouraging sight for Hampshire's largest crowd of the season so far, and Somerset were well and truly on the back foot as the pair put on 83 runs together.

After Shahid Afridi joined him in the middle, Alsop brought up 100 for the home side with his maiden NatWest T20 Blast fifty - off 34 balls - a superb achievement that confirms his versatility across the formats.

Afridi scored 21 off 12 balls in a furious, brief spell with the bat in his last T20 match for Hampshire this season, which ended with the Pakistan all-rounder being caught by Waller at extra cover.

Alsop’s second fifty partnership of the match came with Liam Dawson, who helped the promising young batsmen reach 85 runs before an entertaining innings was ended by a catch on the boundary, at 159-3 with two overs remaining.

Dawson remained unbeaten on 25 runs off 16 balls, but his best was yet to come.

Ryan McLaren (2-14) made a brilliant start with the ball to further the home side’s advantage in the contest, removing Hose (4) and then Trego (8), who was caught superbly by a back-peddling Gavin Griffiths (1-12).

Dawson dazzled with ball in hand, showing the sort of form he produced in England’s victory over Sri Lanka at the The Ageas Bowl, taking five wickets to help bowl the visitors out for less than 100 runs. 

Afridi took the crucial wicket of Allenby (40), who was caught by Gavin Griffiths on an excellent night in the field for the home side, who made things extremely difficult for the visiting batsmen.

Despite not reaching a seventh consecutive finals day in the NatWest T20 Blast, Hampshire ended on a high note in the competition, with an established all-rounder shining alongside a promising young batsman, who is at the forefront of an exciting new generation of players the club.