Here it is then, the Final of the 2012 Twenty20 competition! Yorkshire are playing in their first ever while Hampshire are back again, after missing out in the semi-finals of last year.
The toss was won by Hampshire but they surprised everyone by choosing to bat first, which goes against their winning formula. The reason given by Mascarenhas was that he didn't feel confident in batting last on this aging wicket, plus he backed his bowlers to defend any total over 140-150.
So Carberry and Adams came out to bat for the second time today, while Root was given the first over. It went for a healthy 9 and Hampshire continued their good start over the second and third overs. Sidebottom struck back though in his second over, the fourth of the innings by clean bowling Carberry for 8, to leave Hampshire on 23-1.
Adams and Vince played out the powerplay overs without excitement and then continued to build their partnership. Yorkshire mixed up their bowlers but no more wickets came before the break. Hampshire only had 62 on the board, but on what seemed to be a tough batting wicket they won't have been too worried.
From the third ball of thee 11th over Adams (43) launched a 6, seemingly out of nowhere, but then wasted it by going arial again the following ball and getting caught by Ballance. McKenzie made just 4 before he went lbw and Hampshire were struggling slightly.
Vince and Ervine combined well to add 37, taking Hampshire to 113, but just as they looked to attack Vince was bowled for 36. Katich joined Ervine and did managed to up the rate. Ervine launched a 6 but Sidebottom came back to have him caught by Root for 21.
Katich went on 25 from 16 balls but was run out off the final ball as Hampshire had to settle for 150. An exciting game had been set up and it was up to Yorkshire to chase down the total.
Gale made a positive start and topped his score from the first match (11) with three boundaries. He couldn't keep it up however as he was bowled by Mascarenhas for 15. Ten runs were added, seven of which went to Root before he too was bowled by Mascarenhas, who was continuing to have an excellent day with the ball.
Jaques struggled onto 11 but was also bowled, this time by Dawson and Hampshire were fighting back. The situation then got worse for Yorkshire when Bairstow, the hero of their semi-final, was caught for 3 to leave Yorkshire on 47-4. The half way mark came and went with the northerners still needing more than 100 to win.
Another slow over lifted the required rate even further but Miller then decided enough was enough and took on Ervine's second over. He hit three sixes, the last of which cleared the staduim and ended in the river. The score then reached 75 after 13 overs, leaving 76 to get off the final 7.
Miller then launched another ball into the river to try and keep the run rate in control, but equation was still a difficult 65 runs from 36 balls. Ballance was struggling to match Miller's big hitting and having made just 7 from 15 balls he decided to swing, but only succeeded in being caught by Briggs.
Bresnan got of the mark with a streaky 4 and only 58 was required from the final 5 overs. A four for Miller took the total to 100 before another huge 6 into the Yorkshire supporters got them on their feet with 45 now needed from 4 overs.
Briggs then bowled tight over but couldn't prevent another boundary from the final ball. Bresnan crashed a four and then an overthrow boosted Yorkshire further. The pressure was well and truly on Hampshire. Miller was almost caught behind but the ball evaded Bates and went for four and he then followed it up with another boundary to take 15 from the over, leaving just 21 required from 2 overs.
Briggs was given the penultimate over and he kept it tight. The batsmen ran hard for two from the final ball and the bails were taken off, but Miller was home. 14 were still requied from the final over and the game was in the ballance.
Wood had to bowl the final over and first ball Bresnan skied the ball but could only find Ervine. He made 18 from 14 balls, and it was up to Miller to win the match. Miller though, could only get a single from the second ball and Pyrah was now on strike. He also hit a single and that left 12 required from 3 deliveries.
Miller swung but again only got a single, and next ball Pyrah was clean bowled to effectively end the game. Rafiq swung and was caught off the final ball and the fireworks were set off a Hampshire celebrated their second Twenty20 win.
Hampshire - 150-6 (Adams 43, Sidebottom 2 for 20)
Yorkshire - 140-8 (Miller 72*, Wood 3 for 26)
Star Player: Miller, for his thrilling 72 not out that actually kept the match in the ballance and tight to the end.
Hampshire are the 2012 Twenty20 Champions!
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