So to the last quarter-final of this years Twenty20, Nottinghamshire v Hampshire. For both teams this was their 5th time in the quarters, and they have had similar success. Both have won two and lost two and both have lost in the semis. The difference comes at the final itself, as Nottinghamshire lost theirs on their home ground in still one of the most thrilling finals, back in 2006, whereas Hampshire went one better by beating Somerset, but also on their home turf, in 2010.
The sides are fairly evenly matched with good batters and bowlers. Nottinghamshire had the slight edge of playing in front of a large home crowd, but it was clearly going to be a thrilling match. Here's what happened.
Hampshire won the toss and decided to field
The main difference between these sides is their bowling. Hampshire use almost no pace bowlers at all, prefering spinners and medium-pacers. This seemed to work against the dangerous Hales as he was out to the first ball he faced. Wessels on the other hand took full advantage in the second over, taking 18 from the first 4 balls, before top edging another huge drive and being caught by Briggs.
Briggs became the third bowler for the visitors and his slow deliveries soon proved the best of the lot as Nottinghamshire tried to rebuild but continue to use the powerplay as best they could. Lumb managed to find the boundary several more times and so after 6 overs Nottinghamshire were slightly ahead on 58-2.
Taylor though was having a poor game and two balls into the seventh over was caught for 10 from 15 balls, having hit just the one boundary. He was replaced by captain Adam Voges, who immediately began to manouvre the ball around the field. However just after the half-way mark Lumb (39) was also caught as Hampshire pegged back their opponents once more.
Samit Patel joined Voges and together they managed to add 62 in 7 overs as the run rate rose, but just when it looked like Nottinghamshire might post a strong total Voges became the 5th man to be caught for 33. Patel then took charge and in the final few overs launched some big shots, including one six, and went to a sparkling fifty. Sadly he too couldn't reach the finish but left it to Read and Mullaney to get as many as possible from the final deliveries.
Maxwell proved the most successful bowler as he picked up the final wicket to take 3 for 36, but it was the containing bowling of Briggs and Dawson that really resticted the hosts to a reasonable 178.
Nottinghamshire chose to open with Patel but he went for 9 in the opening over and the hosts quickly switched to their three pronged pace attack. The ball was clearly swinging, which was what Nottinghamshire wanted, and Gurney made full use by having Adams caught behind for 5. Vince and Katich then knocked a few boundaries but with the score on 38 Carter deceived Vince as he drove the ball to Lumb.
The Hampshire innings then followed closely that of their rivals. They reached 61-2 after 6 overs but immediately lost a wicket, Katich (25) caught off the bowling of Mullaney. It was the reintroduction of Patel however that swung the match. With the fielders spread he slowed Hampshire almost to a standstill at times and then picked them off. In his third over, Ervine lofted the first ball to Hales on the boundary, then from the fifth Maxwell danced down the pitch but missed and Read had no trouble in completing the stumping. Hampshire were now 78-5 and the home side were on fire.
McKenzie, however was still there and with Dawson they managed to keep up with the rate. Dawson improvised to the best of his ability, and succeeded in pulling off some outrageous shots, mostly over the keeper's head. He raced to 30, while his partner built a slightly more sedate 50.
After 16 overs Hampshire were 4 ahead on 133-6, with Dawson being caught in the deep off, yes you've guessed it, Samit Patel. Mascarenhas then came to the crease and still managed to keep the runs ticking over. McKenzie put two balls over the rope to further help the visitors' cause, but they still required 22 from 2 overs, and then 12 from the last, to be bowled by Carter.
The first ball was a dot, and the huge home crowd roared as though it were a wicket. From the second the batsmen scampered a bye, but McKenzie then pulled up injured and called for a runner. Vince was the unlucky man, but wasn't required for two balls as McKenzie then launched two superb boundaries, presumably off one leg, to snatch the game away from Nottinghamshire.
There was still more drama to come, with 3 runs still required and the possibility of a super-over on the cards. The penultimate ball saw a push and run and a direct hit, but Vince was already in his ground. Carter then threw the ball to the other end to run out Mascarenhas but only succeeded in gifting a second run, meaning Nottinghamshire had to take a wicket to force a super-over. The fielders came in but McKenzie found a gap through the covers to send the ball for four and win a thrilling game.
Result
Nottinghamshire: 178-7 Patel 60, Maxwell 3 for 36
Hampshire: 182-6 McKenzie 79*, Patel 3 for 26
Hampshire win by 4 wickets
Star Player: McKenzie snatches it from Patel's great all-round effort. Hampshire needed someone to take them all the way, and Mckenzie did it with the highest score of the match.
For now then it's back to the Championship and CB40 cricket, but Finals day is only a month away and there will be full reports on the three matches right here.
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