Royals Defeated Despite Adams 61 Knock

Hampshire lose to Somerset by 7 runs.

Hampshire Royals vs. Somerset Sabres
Friends Provident t20
Friday 11th June 2010 (19:10 start)
The Rose Bowl

Summary
Somerset win by 7 runs
Somerset: 104-7
Hampshire: 97 (19.2 overs)

A match which Hampshire dominated for all but a handful of overs somehow ended in a defeat at the hands of Somerset who, having barely scraped their way past the 100-run mark in their innings, looked to be dead and buried before Hampshire even took to the crease.

An impressive Jimmy Adams knock of 61 looked to have confirmed victory. Indeed, a home win looked on the cards up until the final three overs, when a combination of some excellent bowling and some tough luck turned the game on its head.

The Royals saw two dubious run-out decisions passed to the third umpire only to go against them. Then Afonso Thomas earned his man of the match award with an incredible return of 2 wickets for just 5 runs.

In the first innings, however, it was the Hampshire attack that were treating The Rose Bowl crowd to a bowling master-class and, in particular, Sean Ervine. The Zimbabwean took two wickets for just 10 runs in his four overs. New signing, Adbul Razzaq also deserves a mention having taken two for 20.

Sabres batsmen went for scores of 3, 2 and 0. Even the big hitting Kieron Pollard (2) came and went in a blink of an eye despite high expectations from the West Indian, having made 89 in his previous t20 game.

Visiting captain, Marcus Trescothick kept the innings looking respectable, scoring 27 from 40 deliveries. All the same, it was with great relief to the visiting support that Alfonso Thomas brought up the 2005 champions’ 100 in the final over with a four to deep fine leg; Somerset ending on 104 for 7 from their 20 over allocation.

If Trescothick had been the rock around which Somerset had built, then Adams was the same – and more – for the Royals. While he was hitting 61 off 47 balls (including nine 4s and one 6), others came and went.

Yet it hardly seemed important, as Hampshire remained well ahead of the Sabres’ run rate and had plenty of wickets intact. At 93-4, needing just 11 runs in almost four overs, the victory looked a formality.

The champagne was put on ice however when Razzaq was caught by Jos Buttler for 7, and it became squeaky-bum time as Adams was caught on the boundary.

In those fateful final three overs, Hampshire lost 6 wickets for just 4 runs and a victory that had looked certain was snatched away from them. They’ll have no time to dwell, however, as they look to bounce back against Surrey Lions at The Rose Bowl on Sunday.

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