Turner: ‘Things haven’t fired for me, but hopefully I’ll be stronger for it’

Tom Prest’s 41 came off just 21 balls

Hampshire fast bowler John Turner’s best T20 figures denied Essex a Vitality Blast quarter-final.

The Eagles, losing finalists in 2023, only needed a point at the Utilita Bowl last Friday, to overtake

Gloucestershire into fourth place.

But they were undone by Turner’s 4-23 as Hawks secured only a fourth win of an otherwise poor competition by seven runs.

Ben Mcdermott’s exquisite 64, together with 41s for James Vince and Tom Prest had seen the hosts post a defendable 181-5.

Essex looked out of it at 58-5 but teenagers Luc Benkenstein and Charlie Allison crashed maiden T20 half-centuries in an 86-run stand before Turner’s return at the death.

“It’s nice to finish off the competition with a win,” said Turner. “It has been a disappointing competition as a team as no aspects have fired consistently.

“It is nice to get my best figures. It feels like a tough competition where things haven’t fired for me, but it is good to have that period and hopefully come out stronger for it.

“People know what I’m about a bit more now. Last year I was fresh on the scene and no one really expected much or really knew what I could do. Now batters have clear plans against me but I’ve also not executed.”

Vince and Mcdermott had got Hawks off to a flyer after being stuck in, with a 2024 highest first wicket stand of 97.

Mcdermott came alive with a mix of the brutal and inventive for a 39 ball fifty, Prest belted a sensational 41 off 21 balls, and Joe Weatherley and Toby Albert bashed 25 off the final two overs.

Adam Rossington tickled the first ball of the reply behind before Chris Wood also found Dean Elgar’s edge.

Turner also began with two wickets in an over: Michael Pepper skied a caught and bowled and Paul Walter also departed, before Matt Critchley gave Turner figures of 3-6 after two overs.