Hampshire Hawks: Top 5 Performances

Following the recent announcement that the Club will return as the Hampshire Hawks for T20 cricket, starting from this summer’s Vitality Blast, Hampshire Cricket historian, Dave Allen, is taking a look back at the top five performances in Hawks history.

2001 - First Time Under Floodlights

In the National League, Hampshire Hawks played under floodlights at home for the first time, beating Sussex on 5 July in front of a then unfinished Rose Bowl with its original capacity of 5,000. This was a victory fashioned principally by three young men, all born in Hampshire – Derek Kenway (76) and Jason Laney (43) added 74 for the second wicket in a total of 231, then Chris Tremlett took 3-22 as the Hawks won by 79 runs.

2004 - Dimi's Hattrick

The Hawks had won their first-ever T20 match at home to Sussex in 2003 but they lost the four other matches that year and the first two in 2004. They arrested that disappointing run in spectacular fashion and again Sussex were their victims, this time at Hove. ‘Dimi’ Mascarenhas led the charge, taking 5-14 including the first-ever T20 ‘hat-trick’ as Sussex were dismissed for 67.

Even then, the win was not straightforward as Hampshire fell to 16-4 and 48-6 – Kirtley 2-8 in four overs - but Chris Tremlett with 12* from six balls saw them home by three wickets.

2004 - Shane Watson & Big Score

Shane Watson who had scored a century on his Championship debut, also scored 97* v Kent in the T20, helping Hampshire to clinch a quarter-final place, in what at that time was Hampshire’s highest T20 score of 177-3.

They won that match by 64 runs (Mascarenhas 3-20) but in the quarter-final, captain Shane Warne returned, so Watson was not eligible to play and Hampshire lost at home to Lancashire by nine wickets.

2008 - Rare Pietersen Appearance

The Hawks started the T20 season with a home game against Middlesex. Kevin Pietersen played in his second and last match in that competition in Hampshire’s colours, while Middlesex included Hampshire’s future T20 batsman Owais Shah and the former Hampshire star Shaun Udal .

The match hinged on the performances of those three men, with Middlesex posting 190-7 thanks to Shah’s 48 and Udal’s 32*, while Pietersen surprised everyone, taking 3-33 in his three overs. Batting at number three he then scored 43 but Udal with 3-21 bowled Middlesex to victory by 33 runs.

2009 - Lumb's Record

Michael Lumb scored the first Hampshire Hawks T20 century, 124* v Essex at the Rose Bowl in a Hampshire total of 219-2 – they won by 75 runs.

Lumb’s innings remains the highest for Hampshire and the victory was the largest by runs until 2011. On his next T20 appearance at the Rose Bowl, Lumb scored 93 in a victory against Middlesex.

The reintroduction of the Hawks follows record-breaking demand for tickets and passports for this summer's Vitality Blast fixtures at The Ageas Bowl.

Tickets for Hampshire Hawks’ T20 double-header on Friday 16th July – which will see James Vince’s side face Essex Eagles and local rivals Sussex Sharks in ‘el clasicoast’ on the same day – have been in particularly high demand, with the double-header the fastest-selling T20 fixture on record at The Ageas Bowl.

Vitality Blast Passports, allowing access to all seven of Hampshire Hawks’ action-packed T20 matches at The Ageas Bowl this summer for just £119, have also been hugely popular, with already more Passports sold for 2021 than in any previous season.

Buoyed by Hampshire’s ‘Ticket Refund Promise’ groups of friends, families and colleagues have been booking a date for their summer socials at The Ageas Bowl. All seven Hampshire Hawks home matches will take place after Monday 21st June as part of a bumper schedule of T20 action, with crowds returning to The Ageas Bowl as Hampshire aim to reach a ninth Vitality Blast Finals Day.

To secure your Vitality Blast tickets and passports at the Advance price, please follow the link above. A range of hospitality packages are also available for this summer’s fixtures. To find out more please click here.