Royals Beat Windwards to Reach Caribbean Final

Three wicket Riazuddin over turns a dramatic game Hampshire's way

Windward Islands v Hampshire Royals
Caribbean T20
Saturday 22nd January
Kensington Oval, Barbados

Summary: Hampshire Royals beat the Windward Islands by 4 runs
Hampshire Royals: 166-4 (Myburgh 88, Vince 36)
Windward Islands: 162-7 (Riazuddin 4-15)

They don’t like doing it the easy way, but the Hampshire Royals will contest a second Twenty20 semi-final in six months, having beaten the Windward Islands by four runs in a tense Caribbean T20 match in Barbados.

Johann Myburgh got them off to the perfect start, registering his competition-best 88 with the bat in an innings of which he saw all but three balls, despite playing with a heel injury.

Having racked up a competitive-looking total of 166-4 Hampshire would have fancied their chances, but it would take a game-changing 16th over from Hamza Riazuddin in which he removed three top-order Windwardians, before the game began to swing in their favour.

The Royals will go on to meet Trinidad & Tobago (who beat Jamaica by 8 wickets) in the final which starts at midnight GMT Monday morning. Having been denied a proper match in the group stages due to rain it's an excellent opportunity to pick up on the great start Hampshire made in that match.

There may be quite a few Royals fans mysteriously having to miss work later that day!

Click here for a full scorecard

Having won the toss and chosen to bat, Hampshire didn’t really get going until the third over, when Myburgh struck 12 and then immediately survived a close run-out decision. And Jimmy Adams followed that with a six and a four to move the Royals to 38-0 off the opening five overs.

However, when Adams (22) came down on the wrong side of a run-out call in the sixth, concerns were raised as, instead of going back to the dug-out, he was required to remain at the crease as a runner for Myburgh, who had taken a knock while training the previous afternoon.

Time, then, for James Vince to once again show all his doubters that he’s a big-game player and, having gently nudged away to get his side through the half-way mark, he then enjoyed a high-scoring over of his own in the 12th hitting a few choice boundaries.

However, the innings belonged to Myburgh who reached his 50 off 44 balls, put on a 75 partnership with Vince and was only absent from the field of play for 5 minutes of the whole game. Hants fans will be desperately hoping he’s OK to play in the final as he’s been undoubtedly one of the stars of the tournament.

Whereas Hampshire had scored their runs in fits and starts (registering nine 6s and ten 4s in all) the Windwards accumulated steadily, ticking along at around the required run-rate of 8.3 per over for the first three quarters of their innings.

Devon Smith (27) and Andre Fletcher (44) were the stand-out performers, bringing up a 50 partnership on their way to seeing their team through to 75-1 at nearly the halfway stage. With five overs to go the over-comparison showed both teams having reached 114 at the same point so it couldn’t have been closer. That was all about to change.

First West Indies and Windwards captain Darren Sammy hit Riazuddin right down Dawson’s throat at deep square leg. Then, after a long consultation with his departing skipper, Fletcher swung wildly at the next ball and was stumped by Bates. A mere four balls later Gary Mathurin pulled the same bowler to Vince at mid-on and, the psychological advantage gained, the Royals never seriously looked in danger of losing it from then on.

Although it did go down to the last over – with 18 needed off it – Hampshire’s talisman, Simon Jones bowled brilliantly at the death, securing the four-run win.

An impressive performance all-round, then, from this young Hampshire side. However, the celebrations will have to be held off for one more day as they have to go out and do it all over again tomorrow.

- Simon Vincent

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