James Vince urges Hampshire Hawks to maintain momentum ahead of Blast Fest

Hampshire Hawks captain James Vince has called on his side to carry their strong Vitality Blast form into the second half of the campaign, as they prepare for Friday’s blockbuster Blast Fest fixture at Utilita Bowl.

The Hawks head into the clash in a strong position after an impressive run in the opening weeks of the competition, bouncing back from an opening defeat to win five consecutive matches.

Reflecting on the first half of the group stage, Vince said the squad could be pleased with their work so far, but stressed the importance of maintaining standards as the race for the knockout stages intensifies.

“It’s been pretty good,” he said. “If you’d offered us this position at the start of the season, we’d have taken it without a doubt.

Good position

He continued: “After losing the first game and then bouncing back with five on the spin, it’s put us in a good position.

“Going into the second half, we might need slightly fewer wins than we did at the start to make sure we reach the quarter-finals, but we’re still focused on winning every game.”

That strong start has given Hampshire what Vince describes as a valuable “buffer”, but the skipper is under no illusions about the challenges still to come in a competition where momentum can quickly shift.

“Momentum is everything in T20 cricket,” Vince added. “You can win a few on the spin, as we did, but if you get on the wrong side of a couple of results, it can quickly go against you.

“We know we’ve got to be on it straight away and make sure we keep pushing to secure that quarter-final place.”

Contributions

The Hawks’ success so far has been built on contributions throughout the squad, with Vince highlighting a number of key performers who have helped lay the foundation for their campaign.

“Russell Domingo has come in as coach and made a real impact, and Hilton Cartwright has been brilliant.

“The way he’s come in and taken games on, he’s played some vital roles for us.

“Scott Currie has been outstanding as well, and there’s been contributions right across the group, it’s been a really pleasing start.”

Attention now turns to Friday’s Blast Fest clash, where Hampshire will look to extend both their winning momentum and their formidable record at Utilita Bowl in front of a packed home crowd.

Hampshire Hawks’ Vitality Blast fixture against Yorkshire on Friday 26 June will be transformed into Blast Fest, combining T20 cricket, live music and summer entertainment for one of the biggest matchdays of the season.

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