11th Aug 2010: When Hampshire take on Essex in the semi-finals of the Friends Provident T20 competition on the finals day they will surely be a nervous yet confident bunch. This confidence stems from the fact that they have reached the semi-finals of the competition by overcoming several hurdles on their way. The tournament started off on a bad note for the Royals, having lost their regular skipper and star performer Dimitri Mascarenhas to injury after just one game. The team already had enough concerns about some inconsistent performances.  This was clearly evident when the team failed to chase down a meagre total of 104 against Somerset. Two games later, it was the turn of the bowlers to face the music as Sussex chased down 138 in 12 overs. However, the X factor working in favour of the Hampshire Royals campaign was the fighting spirit with which they kept coming back with more vigour and vitality.

Overall, there are more positives for the Royals compared to the negatives. The transition of Jimmy Adams, previously known to be nurdler & nudger of the ball, to a belligerent hitter has been nothing short of a fairy tale. The consistency with which Jimmy Adams has batted is sure to make England selectors sit up and take notice. Over 600 runs in the competition at an impressive strike rate of 133.63 makes him the player to watch out for in the finals. The atmosphere around the team has been so healthy that the introduction of youngsters like James Vince into the team has been an impressive decision, and he seems to be a perfect fit in the side. The calmness with which Vince batted in the quarter-finals against Warwickshire amazed many. The experienced players have also played their part well in the campaign. Neil Mckenzie produced a stunning innings against Sussex to ensure that Hampshire makes it to the quarter-finals of the tournament. Sean Ervine has been chipping in with good performances throughout the tournament. Abdul Razzaq, Daniel Christian, Dominic Cork have also played their role well at different points in the tournament. Even though Michael Carberry and Michael Lumb started off the campaign sluggishly, they have been in great form recently and would certainly be pushing for a spot in the starting XI. Two young bowlers Danny Briggs and Chris Woods have also come along brilliantly for the Royals. Danny Briggs, in particular, was nothing short of outstanding in the tournament picking up 27 wickets at an average 14.29 and economy rate of 6.54.

The Hampshire Royals campaign has been full of ups and downs. However what stands apart is the ability of the team to come out through difficult periods. The team has indeed shown the character to be the champions. Though Jimmy Adams and Danny Briggs have been the outstanding performers for the Royals, it is heartening to know that each and every player has made a significant contribution towards the team’s cause. The morale of the team ahead of the knock-out clash must be high and they would be extremely happy with their form running into the finals day at the Rose Bowl. If Hampshire can hold their nerve in the finals, August the 14th could well be a memorable day for all the Hampshire players and fans. With players brimming with confidence and the advantage of playing at home, the stage is set for the Hampshire Royals to take over.

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