VENTNOR SPINNER SHINES AS HAMPSHIRE TRIUMPH IN TWENTY20

Nineteen-year old Ventnor left-arm spinner Danny Briggs starred as Hampshire beat Essex and then Somerset in a bizarre almost unreal finish at the Rose Bowl to win the FP Twenty20 Cup for the first time. Essex, who included former Liphook & Ripsley paceman Chris Wright, appeared to be running away with the semi-final at 84-1 when Briggs was introduced to the Hampshire attack. He took 3-29 in his four overs, removing Bopara (2), ten Doeschate (1) and Pettini (55) as Essex collapsed to 156-7 and were eventually beaten. Hampshire went on to beat Somerset in a pulsating final with a leg bye off the last ball with the scores tied. Somerset made 173-6 (Briggs took 1-30) but Hampshire (173-5) won by virtue of losing fewer wickets. Four Academy cricketers, James Vince, Chris Wood, wicketkeeper Michael Bates and Briggs played in the cup winning Hampshire side. It was almost 11 o'clock at night - 12 hours since the first ball of the day was bowled - when Hampshire lifted the trophy.