McKenzie Half-Century Not Enough as Royals Lose in t20

Hampshire beaten by Surrey Lions by 11 runs.

Surrey Lions v Hampshire Royals
Friends Provident t20
Tuesday 22nd June 2010 (17:30 start)
The Brit Oval

Summary
Surrey Lions win by 11 runs
Surrey Lions: 200-8
Hampshire Royals: 189-6

 Simon Jones’ eagerly anticipated debut for the Royals ended in defeat despite a run fest at the Brit Oval.

With the Lions posting Hampshire a target of 201 for victory, Dominic Cork’s men fell 11 runs short despite a fine partnership of 49 between Jimmy Adams (46) and James Vince (43).

Although Neil McKenzie finished unbeaten on 52 from just 28 balls, Surrey’s Simon Davies and Andrew Symonds were the stars of the show.

The home side took full advantage of the power play overs finishing the 6th on 68 for 1. Although Ervine claimed the wicket of Surrey captain Rory Hamilton-Brown (10), it was Davies who set the ball rolling for the Lions during that period.

The wicketkeeper was in magnificent form as he hit nine boundaries and three maximums on the way to making 60 from just 25 deliveries. Finding every corner of the ground, the left-hander brought up his half century from just 18 balls as the Hampshire bowlers had little in response.

With Ervine the star of the show against Gloucestershire last time out, he threatened again after taking Davies’ wicket. However, the Lions built on the 23-year-old’s platform, despite Jason Roy (12) and Stuart Walters (7) falling in the middle overs.

With Surrey’s international contingent at the crease, Symonds and Younis Khan put on a 76-run partnership to eventually take the game away from Hampshire. Khan (21), who was the victim of Ervine’s second wicket, anchored the Australian’s innings as Symonds blitzed the Royals’ bowlers making a rapid 63 from 16 balls.

When the explosive all-rounder (who, in fact, didn’t bowl) was finally out by an ingenious bit of work in the field by Ervine (who found the stumps from mid-off), Surrey had already posted 185 for 6.
Jones claimed his first wicket in Hampshire colours clean bowling Gareth Batty (3) as the home side finished 200 for 8.

Sean Ervine was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 28 off 3 overs

Needing to get off to a quick start, both Adams and Michael Lumb found the boundary rope on numerous occasions before the latter fell having made 11.

James Vince (43) played brilliantly, conjuring up three sixes and finding the boundary rope four times as he and Adams looked to keep up with the run rate.

But when Vince was clean bowled, looking to sweep across his stumps, the Royals were unable to find the boundaries they needed as the scoring rate started to creep above 11.

With McKenzie making and unbeaten 52, the loss of both Ervine (2) and Pothas (12) left Hampshire needing a mammoth 30 runs from the final over.

Although 20 was scored with Cork (10*) hitting a boundary, the first innings total was just out of reach for the Royals.

Giles White’s men return to The Rose Bowl for their next two matches, looking to do the double over Gloucestershire (Friday 25th June) and beat Essex (Sunday 27th June) in the teams’ first meeting of the season in this competition.

Words by Ally Fisher

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