Hampshire Starts Ben Brown Captaincy with Victory Over Yorkshire
Southampton, England — The Ben Brown era as captain of Hampshire began on a high note as the team secured a five-wicket victory over newly promoted Yorkshire in the County Championship.
Taking over from James Vince, who had led Hampshire to a commendable second-place finish last season, Brown faced an anxious 148-run chase in his debut match as skipper. Yorkshire struggled early on, bowled out for just 121 on the first day, before Adam Lyth’s determined 106 raised hopes for a comeback.
Despite Yorkshire’s efforts, their chances wavered as Hampshire lost four wickets for only 86 runs. However, Tom Prest’s aggressive 57 provided stability alongside Liam Dawson, guiding Hampshire to a successful chase. This impressive start without Vince and star bowler Mo Abbas earned Hampshire 19 points, while Yorkshire, under new leadership from Jonny Bairstow and Anthony McGrath, managed just three points.
Lyth’s innings was a test of patience; it took him 123 balls to hit his first boundary. On Day 3, his performance showed promise, building partnerships and ultimately reaching his 38th first-class century. However, Hampshire’s bowlers, particularly Brett Hampton, made critical breakthroughs, eventually dismissing Lyth and other key players.
After some mid-order drama, where four wickets fell for 40 runs, Prest stepped up, countering the pressure and securing a 61-run partnership with Dawson. Though Prest fell just as Hampshire leveled the score, Brown led the team across the finish line, scoring the winning run in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Utilita Bowl.
Hampshire’s triumphant start under Ben Brown sets a positive tone for the season ahead.
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