Hampshire book final spot

Bravo move backfires for Essex as Hampshire make T20 final

Last updated: 15th August 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hampshire book final spot

Briggs: Three wickets

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Hosts Hampshire reached the final of the Friends Provident t20 for the first time with a six-wicket win over Essex at the Rose Bowl.

Essex flew in West Indian Dwayne Bravo at great expense, but that move failed to pay off as he made just five runs before being slapped for 46 runs from his four overs.

Out-of-form England opener Alastair Cook found some form with a brisk 38 as he and Mark Pettini gave Essex a fine start with their opening stand of 79.

Teenage spinner Danny Briggs then impressed as he removed Pettini as one of his three wickets and Essex had to settle for 156-7 from their 20 overs.

Jimmy Adams and Abdul Razzaq came out firing in response with their quick-fire 67 giving Hampshire a flying start, but Hampshire were in danger of running out of overs before Michael Carberry's nerveless 17 not out steered them home with four balls to spare.

Welcome runs

Finals day started with Cook getting some welcome runs, with the under-pressure England man hitting two sixes and three fours in his 22-ball knock of 38.

Essex had hit 48 in the six powerplay overs, while Pettini cashed in having been dropped by Dominic Cork on 25.

Cook was left ruing his dismissal, as he looked well set when he fell softly, steering a loose Dan Christian delivery into the hands of Briggs at short fine leg.

Briggs then stepped up and removed tournament top scorer Ravi Bopara for just five, before adding the wicket of the dangerous Ryan ten Doeschate who holed out to long-on for a single

The 19-year-old spinner then got the prize wicket of Pettini for 56 as he finished with impressive figures of 3-29, while Bravo was run out for five to make his expensive appearance already looking like money down the drain.

With 157 the target, Hampshire started brightly with Razzaq taking two fours off all-rounder Bravo as his first 12 deliveries leaked 20.

Assault

Razzaq's assault continues with four down the ground off Chris Wright and a drilled six to bring up the Hampshire 50 off compatriot Danish Kaneria.

Razzaq had 44 off 31 balls when he miscued Wright to Ravi Bopara at point, but Adams and James Vince moved the total to 75 after 10 overs.

James Foster stumped Vince for 15 and Adams (34) followed quickly, Bopara striking to make it 101-3 and helping stall the hosts, who saw the required rate edge over 10 with four overs left.

Sean Ervine took six and four off the first two balls of Bravo's comeback over, but the bowler responded by locating his middle stump.

Bravo shipped 12 off the 19th over, leaving a target of just five more, Carberry and Neil McKenzie reaching that with four balls spare.