ACADEMY STARLET POISED FOR TWENTY20 FINALS DAY

Hampshire Academy teenager Chris Wood is looking forward to the biggest day in his cricketing career so far tomorrow, as the Hampshire Royals take on the Essex Eagles in the semi-finals of FP Twenty20 Cup.
Even better is that it will be at county’s home the Rose Bowl and a sell-out crowd of 23,000 is expected for the all-day cricket bonanza.
First up will be the Hampshire v Essex clash starting at 11.30am, followed by the second semi-final between Somerset and Nottinghamshire.  The final starts at 7.30pm under the floodlights.
Alton-based Wood has been a real find for Hampshire, having taken his chance when injuries opened the door to give him a place in the Royals’ one-day team.  The 19-year-old left-arm seamer has since taken 28 wickets in the one day game this season and has often opened the bowling for a team captained by Dominic Cork.
Hampshire reached the last four thanks to a victory on the final day of the group games and then a quarter-final success against Warwickshire. That set up a clash with an Essex side who have so far beaten them twice this season in Twenty20 cricket.
However, that does not bother Wood. He said: “We want to make it third time lucky for us and playing at the Rose Bowl has got to be an advantage.”
The Eagles have been boosted with news that England opener Alastair Cook is available and they are also hoping Pakistani Danish Kaneria will play, alongside West Indian Dwayne Bravo.
Wood added: “We know it is going to be a tough game, but we have won our last four one-day games, so the mood in the camp is good. I am really looking forward to it. It is going to be the biggest day in my life in cricket terms so far.”
Victory for the Royals would crown a brilliant debut season for the Academy player, who has scored 467 runs for the Academy in the Southern Electric Premier League this season, including two centuries. He added: “So far I think my first game was probably the high spot of the season, when I took 2-17 from my four overs. That was a great way to start and they were really pleased.”
Last Sunday, Wood returned 2-25 in an 40 over contest with Durham at the Rose Bowl, as Hampshire warmed up for Saturday in the best possible way, with a six wicket win.
Alongside Academy teammates Michael Bates and James Vince, Wood will be a important member of the Royals’ bid to land the Twenty20 crown for the first time in their history.