Hampshire take inspiration from Carberry’s fight
MICHAEL Carberry proved the inspiration for HAMPSHIRE after they recorded back-to-back victories over SUSSEX SHARKS and high-flying GLAMORGAN.
Their revival in the competition proved the silver lining in a testing week at the Ageas Bowl after news broke that stalwart Carberry had been diagnosed with a cancerous tumour.
With just one win from ten matches, Hampshire had already left too much to work to do qualify for the quarter-finals.
But they showed superb spirit as Liam Dawson smashed 76 runs from 54 balls before taking 4-23 from four overs to defeat Glamorgan by 25 runs.
And 24 hours later both Will Beer and Jofra Archer were run out in a final over in which 19-year-old bowler Brad Wheal conceded just three runs, as Sussex were beaten by one run in Hove.
Hampshire director of cricket Giles White said:“The players did a good job to go out there under the circumstances.
“An hour or so before the start (of the Glamorgan game) Carbs wanted to tell the players. It was quite an emotional time for everyone.
“Carbs has been at the club for ten years or so and is a popular member with all those guys and the response of the players was fantastic.They stuck to their job brilliantly.
“We have struggled with injuries and other stuff this year and I think the way the players went out there and performed was fantastic.”
South Group leaders GLOUCESTERSHIRE moved a step closer to securing a home quarter-final with a 30-run win over ESSEX at Cheltenham’s College Ground.
Captain Michael Klinger hit an unbeaten 95 off 57 deliveries and was ably backed up by Ian Cockbain (69no) as the home side posted 212-1 from 20 overs. Essex could muster just 182-9 in response.
Having been 97-2, SOMERSET collapsed to 137 all out as MIDDLESEX, led by England one-day skipper Eoin Morgan (43), got home with five balls to bowl.
And Daniel Bell-Drummond blasted a sensational unbeaten knock of 112 as KENT reached their victory target of 181 to beat SURREY by eight wickets with two deliveries to spare.