Hampshire beat Yorkshire to claim second Twenty20 title

Hampshire take the T20 title for the second time in three seasons as they beat Yorkshire in the final by ten runs. 

The 2010 winners saw off Somerset in the semi-final earlier in the day with a 6 wicket win.  Somerset, losing finalists for the last three years, were restricted to 125-6 off their 20 overs, despite Craig Kieswetter’s unbeaten 63. 

Hampshire then used 19 overs to reach 126-4 to reach the final.  Sean Ervine top scored with 34 not out, while Michael Carberry added 33.  Somerset captain Marcus Trescothic was disappointed with the loss adding: ‘It’s a dreadful feeling. You put so much effort in, so much blood, sweat and tears but at least we keep putting ourselves in the position to be shot down’.

In the opposing semi-final, Yorkshire beat Sussex with the help of a half-century by England batsman Jonny Bairstow.  Bairstow (68 not out) and David Miller (47) guided the Tykes to 172-6 as they recovered from 36-3, after Sussex’s Scott Styris had claimed three wickets.

Despite Sussex man Chris Nash hitting 80, they fell 36 runs short on 136-8 with Yorkshire sealing a comfortable win in the end.

The victory also ensured that both finalists will play in the 2012 Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa in October.  It will be Hampshire’s first appearance in that competition as no English sides played in 2010, because of a clash with the end of the County Championship.

Hampshire went up against Yorkshire in a thrilling final which saw Hampshire run out victors in the last over.  Yorkshire needing 14 off the final over, lost three wickets and finished ten runs short of Hampshire’s total of 150-6.

The 2010 winners made a commanding start to the game with Jimmy Adams making 43 and James Vince hitting 36.  David Miller hit five sixes in an unbeaten 72 for Yorkshire but it was not enough for a team in their first t20 final who fell short in the run chase.

Hampshire captain Dimitri Mascarenhas was proud of the win stating: “I missed the win two years ago due to injury and last year we lost in the semi-finals but to be here and win two games was a great feeling and one I’ll always remember.” 

Prior to the finals day, Mascarenhas had said that Hampshire were the underdogs going in to the tournament: “Being underdogs is not a bad thing. In Twenty20 any team can beat any other team on any given day. All you need are a couple of people to hit form and hopefully those two people can be in our team.”

Stuart Banfield, cricket correspondent