Hants Fans Close Their Eyes for Tresco Horror Show

Captain leads by example as Somerset beat Hampshire by 6 wickets in the Friends Provident t20.

Somerset Sabres v Hampshire Royals
Friends Provident t20
Friday 9th July 2010
Taunton

Summary
Somerset beat Hampshire by 6 wickets.
Hampshire Royals: 216-5
Somerset Sabres:

Marcus Trescothick made the second fastest 50 ever scored and a returning Peter Trego hit an unbeaten 72 to help the Sabres chase down the Royals’ highest total of the season away from home with 2 overs remaining.

Excellent knocks from Neil McKenzie (73) and Sean Ervine (53) looked to have done the job for the visitors as they made 216-5, but the Somerset captain had other ideas and his team recorded a seventh win of the season, leaving Hampshire in their wake.

Asked by the PA announcer to explain his decision to bat first, Hampshire captain, Dominic Cork said simply, “Well, we had to bat at some point, so I thought we may as well go first” adding, “Do you think I made the right decision?”

He looked to have soon found out the answer as McKenzie and Ervine rattled their way to the 50 partnership mark inside 11 overs.

Shortly afterwards, McKenzie would bring up his own 50 milestone off the 36th delivery he’d faced. (including six 4s and one huge 6 that had flown over the press box). Ervine’s 50 was even better, coming with his third 6 and off his 30th delivery (including five 4s).

Both aforementioned sixes prompted the playing of “You Can Leave Your Hat On” over the Taunton speakers. Sexy cricket, indeed!

Though both players would exit stage left before the innings was up, it was their fine scores that the Royals’ 216 stand was built around. Hampshire had crafted a strong lead to defend.

McKenzie top scored for the Royals with 73 (off 48 balls including ten 4s and one 6).

But Somerset’s reply started in the perfect manner. Two fours off the opening two balls from Trescothick set the scene as he raced to the fastest ever 50 in English cricket – off just 13 balls (including five 4s and five 6s.)

In the ninth over, Royals’ fans got the best news of the day as Tresco was caught and bowled by Danny Briggs. Two balls later, Pollard needlessly holed out to Briggs as well – going for a duck. Things were looking slightly better, but the Sabres were only 100 runs behind, with more than half an innings to go!

Nevertheless, it did seem to have Somerset running scared for a while as the run-rate dipped and a tense ending looked on the cards.

However, as is often in the case in t20, one over can make all the difference and shortly after Trego brought up his 50 (off 37 deliveries) he smashed three consecutive sixes in the 17th over to take his team through the 200 mark, leaving them 14 short of victory with three overs to go.

The next over would do it for the hosts as a Jos Buttler boundary took them to 220 and a 6 wicket victory.

The Royals do it all over again on Saturday night away to Middlesex – a game in which club captain, Dimi Mascarenhas may figure. (click here to read a match preview). Let's hope to see a captains performance from him like the one we saw tonight.

Words: Simon Vincent. Images: Phil Mingo

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