Seconds Secure Double-Header Win Over MCC Young Cricketers

Hampshire 2nd XI v MCCYC XI – Game 1

Brilliant half-centuries from Joe Gatting (70 from 44) and Adam Wheater (53* from 41) helped Hampshire secure a dominant 43-run victory over MCC Young Cricketers at the The Ageas Bowl in the first T20 match.

The hosts posted a formidable 182-4 from their 20 overs, with Gatting and Wheater starring and the latter finishing unbeaten at the innings break.

In reply, Jackson Bird (1-21) picked up his first wicket for Hampshire as regular wickets and a climbing required rate ensured MCCYC succumbed under the pressure in the second innings to finish well short of their target on 139-6.

Despite losing Tom Alsop (18) and Liam Dawson (17) early on, Gatting and Wheater came together to form an important partnership of 64 to help steer the home-side to 135-2 with five overs still remaining.

Whilst the former was unfortunate to fall to bring his innings to a close, Wheater continued to show his batting prowess as boundaries flowed throughout to see Hampshire end their innings with all the momentum heading into the second half.

Some efficient and consistent bowling from the home attack meant runs were hard to come by from the off as MCCYC looked to make early inroads. Yasir Arafat (2-27) and Bird bowled excellently to restrict the visitors to 66-2 at the halfway stage – still requiring 117 runs from the final 10 overs.

Hampshire 2nd XI v MCCYC XI – Game 2

Positive knocks from Owais Shah (51 from 48) and Liam Dawson (42 from 33), as well as an impressive bowling performance from Brad Wheal (3-19), helped Hampshire claim their second T20 win against MCC Young Cricketers at the The Ageas Bowl.

A constant flurry of wickets hampered the visitors in their first-innings efforts as they were unable to post an imposing total, finishing 136-8 from their 20 overs.

In reply, Shah and Dawson made quick work of the visitors, the experienced duo seeing Hampshire home for the loss of just three wickets inside 18 overs.

After tying down the away-side early on, the loss of three wickets for just four runs saw MCCYC fall to 49-3 having previously been 45-0, as Wheal, Mason Crane (1-18) and Dawson (1-26) ripped through the opposition’s top-order.

Whilst T Smith (28) and A Macqueen (28) staged a small recovery, Wheal then struck again whilst Brad Taylor also grabbed his first wicket, to remove both men and reduce the visitors to 108-5 with just four overs remaining.

Wheal picked up his third scalp and Jackson Bird also chipped in with a wicket to see MCCYC reach the innings close with a modest total on the scoreboard.

Despite the loss of openers Sean Terry (1) and Tom Alsop (16) with the score on 24-2, a 92-run partnership between Dawson and Shah guided the home-side comfortably towards the total.

Although Dawson fell with just over 20 runs still needed, the damage had already been done and Hampshire reached their target with relative ease - Shah bringing up his fine half-century to conclude another solid performance and victory in the second T20 match against MCCYC. 

Pressure continued to build thanks to good spells too from Brad Taylor (2-15) and Liam Dawson (1-16) and although the opposition fought hard in their chase, the resulting convincing win always seemed the most likely outcome throughout the opening T20 fixture.