Report & Reaction: Essex v Hampshire Hawks, Vitality Blast

James Vince followed up becoming the Vitality Blast’s highest run scorer by chalking up his fifth T20 century as Hampshire Hawks annihilated Essex.

Vince is now only behind Michael Klinger in Blast hundreds having overtaken Luke Wright in the run charts on Wednesday, and only Wayne Madsen has more than his 280 runs in this year’s competition.

His supreme 103 laid the foundations for a huge 215 target for the Eagles, which Nathan Ellis’ three for 10, Scott Currie’s three for 21 and Liam Dawson’s four for 21 made sure was never chasable.

Defending champions Hampshire eventually won by 118 runs – the Hawks’ highest margin of victory after bowling the hosts out for 96 – with 35 balls to spare to hand Essex their first T20 defeat of the year.

Vince continued from his back-to-back unbeaten 88s, and his record-breaking, by pumping Aron Nijjar for two massive sixes back over his head with his first two balls faced having been asked to bat first.

Ben McDermott was adjudged caught behind while Toby Albert took nine balls to get off the mark but Vince was terrorising the crowd and local residents – his eventual eight sixes threatened the slate and chimneys of the houses at the Hayes Close End.

He monopolised the run-scoring, including 60 of the 101 stand with Albert – who improved his hitting to reach 38 before he was stumped.

Vince was cleanly striking anything that was sent his way and brought up his century with another pulled maximum in 45 balls.

He was furious when he slapped a Matt Critchley long hop to the deep midwicket boundary which began five wickets falling for 35 runs.

Joe Weatherley had made a well-compiled 29 before he was caught at cover to follow Ross Whiteley, Aneurin Donald and James Fuller’s short stays.

But a tame finale was avoided when Liam Dawson slog-swept three successive sixes to take 21 off the final over and give Hampshire 214. Daniel Sams was the only bowler not to go at a double figure run-rate for his three for 28, although Simon Harmer also pilfered three wickets.

Essex tried to swing their way to victory but plays and misses dominated, despite Adam Rossington pumped two early sixes before unfortunately been given caught behind after the ball appeared to clip his stump rather than his bat.

Dan Lawrence was lbw after 22 off 14, Feroze Khushi yorked by Dawson, Paul Walter stumped, Robin Das swatted to long off, Tom Westley drilled to cover and Nathan Ellis bowled Harmer. It had been a spell of five wickets in 23 balls for 20 runs.

Dawson pinned Nijjar before Sams gave Vince his third catch of the night and Ellis his third wicket to finish off the comprehensive away victory.