Vince: We have to pick up pieces
JAMES VINCE challenged his Hampshire teammates to quickly pick themselves up when the County Championship title goes on the line this week.
The England star (above) believes it is crucial for the South Coast outfit to put yesterday’s T20 Blast semi-final loss out of their minds and ensure they beat Lancashire in the four-day contest starting on Tuesday.
Hampshire are gunning for their first County crown in 48 years, and only third ever, when they travel to Liverpool.
But they do so on the back of losing to Somerset in the short game at Edgbaston.
And captain Vince, whose side lost to Somerset by two wickets with two balls to spare as the West Countrymen chased down a 150 target, said: “It’s a deflated dressing room but we simply have to put this behind us as soon as possible and tomorrow will all be about preparing our best for the County Championship again.
“The different tournaments are coming thick and fast, and so are the massive games.
“We must quickly move on from this loss to Somerset and focus totally on not losing against Lancs. The guys are strong mentally, and I have no doubt we can rise to the occasion.
“It’s such a huge and important week still despite this defeat. We badly want to become county champions because it is unchartered territory for this group of players. We were not in the hunt for so much of the season but have left ourselves in a good position to get our hands on the trophy. If we can win it, it will be very special and a great achievement for all the squad and the county.
“It was a shame we couldn’t go into that crucial game on a good note by doing well in the finals here but now we have to produce a matchwinning display against Lancs.”
We must quickly move on.. and focus on not losing