Toby’s ton sets up Hampshire for warm-up victory
Toby Albert and Mohammad Abbas starred as Hampshire romped to victory in their Metro Bank Cup warm-up friendly in Dorset.
Albert blasted 132 off 96 balls as Hampshire posted 336-8 off their 50 overs at Wimborne.
Then former Pakistan Test seamer Abbas bagged 6-31 as the hosts were bowled out for 196.
Abbas struck with the first ball of Dorset’s reply, trapping Jacob Gordon leg before. And it was 18-2 when Abbas had Jacob’s younger brother Finn caught by Eddie Jack.
William Tripcony was the only top order batter to impress against an international-standard attack containing Abbas, Kyle Abbott and Brad Wheal.
The 20-year-old, who had made just 10 the day before playing for Bashley at Havant in the Southern Premier League, hit 92 off 87 balls.
Tripcony, who struck four sixes and 10 fours, was eventually bowled by Abbas when he was reintroduced into the attack.
Eddie Jack, who had made his third T20 Blast appearance for Hampshire against Essex two days earlier, returned 2-22 off seven overs.
Hampshire’s day had begun badly when opener and captain Nick Gubbins was dismissed by Ollie Southon having made just two.
Fletcha Middleton and Tom Prest (38) added 100 for the second wicket, with Middleton going on to make 82 before he was third out at 153.
Albert and Felix Organ then piled on the runs with a fifth wicket stand of 137 in 14 overs.
Albert cleared the boundary rope nine times and added 10 fours for good measure.
Organ hit four fours and two sixes in his 40-ball 51 as Hampshire raced past the 300 mark.
Hampshire, who reached the Metro Bank
Cup final last season, losing to Leicestershire in the
Trent Bridge final by just two runs after allowing the Foxes’ seventh wicket pair to add 151, start this season’s campaign at home to Northants on Friday.
They will be without six members of their regular
T20 Blast XI who have been signed up by Hundred franchises - skipper James Vince, Liam Dawson, John Turner, Joe Weatherley, James Fuller and Benny Howell.