Twice pinned on the ropes and then knocked to the canvas, Hampshire's young cricketers fought back and pulled off an astonishing 22-run victory over Warwickshire to win the prestigious ECB Under-17 County Championship in the Arundel Castle sunshine.
They were almost out for the count at 127-6 shortly after lunch on a rain curtailed opening day, but rallied to reach 276-9, writes Mike Vimpany.
Hampshire were down on their knees again when Warwickshire took their reply to 190-2 – only to collapse spectacularly to 254 all out.
“We need a special moment or two,” reflected Hampshire vice-captain Felix Organ, who plays his junior cricket locally for St Cross Symondians.
“But there’s an incredible team ethic and, in our moments of need, stuck together as a unit and pulled off a remarkable result.”
Put into bat in bowler friendly overcast conditions, Hampshire lost lead batsmen Ben Duggan and Organ for ducks, both to the impressive new ball bowling of George Panayi (3-21), who achieved considerable movement in the air and off the pitch.
Elijah Samuel (22) and Jake Goodwin (22) took the fight back to Warwickshire as Hampshire scored briskly - only to continue to lose wickets, primarily with batsmen being bowled in the trying conditions..
Josh McCoy (31) and Ben Caldera (28) both perished either side of lunch before rain ended play, with Warwickshire firmly in control.
In total contrast to the opening day, when Warwickshire’s seamers ruled the roost under heavy bowler friendly skies, conditions were near perfect for batting on day two.
But some strange Warwickshire tactics allowed Hampshire to dominate the following morning session.
The Midlands county did not seem to put Hampshire under any great pressure, setting defensive fields instead of looking to bowl their opponents out by taking the last four wickets.
Whatever their tactics were, they backfired spectacularly as Havant’s Harry Hovey (69) and Harry Came (56) produced a pre-lunch century partnership.
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With Tom Scriven hitting a timely 22, Hampshire went on to double their overnight score and post a competitive 276-9 off a truncated 71 overs.
“We knew that, with the game reduced to 71 overs, we had a chance but at the same time we’d have to play really well and not lose any sessions,” Organ added.
“We needed something special – and the two Harry’s produced it with that century partnership.
“We won the first hour and the second, but with the sun out, the pitch was getting easier and ideally we needed a few more than we actually got.
But 276 was a competitive total and meant they had to score at four an over. But we had to bowl well.”
Liam Banks (97) and George Hargrave (51) took Warwickshire’s reply to 136-1 and when Tom Banton (26) helped the score on to 190-2, Hampshire were back on the canvas for another mandatory count.
When Jake Goodwin (2-39) bowled Banks three short of his century, Warwickshire wobbled, losing three quick wickets to slip to 204-5.
Hampshire’s youngsters sniffed an opportunity, only for George Westlake (26 not out) and three-wicket bowling star George Panayi (21) to steady the slide.
Their 39-run partnership took Warwickshire to 243-5.
But when spinner Felix Organ (2-60) lured Panayi out of his crease to provide Hovey with his third victim, Warwickshire went into free-fall.
They panicked and, amid a plethora of run-outs, lost their last five wickets for 12 runs and collapsed to 254 all out.
It was one of the most remarkable turnabouts in ECB history competition – Hampshire’s youngsters pulling off a result that few could have thought possible 24 hours earlier.
Organ reflected: “When they got to 190-2 it was that ‘special time’ again and when they lost those three quick wickets we were back in the game again
“That really got us going and they cracked under increasing pressure.
“As soon as we got those wickets we all shouted ‘come on boys’ and the team spirit we’ve engendered rose to unprecedented heights : we all wanted to win so much for each other.”
It was the second time Hampshire had won the Under-17 national competition, following on from the 2007 triumph when a side including Michael Bates, Danny Briggs, James Vince and Chris Wood, among others, trounced Durham at Hove.
Hampshire were beaten finalists against Nottinghamshire in 2012.
Words: Mike Vimpany
Image: Sarah Williams
