While Somerset look to have a top four spot in the South Group sewn up, there is plenty of competition for the remaining three quarter final places, and Hampshire Hawks and Glamorgan are in the thick of it. Glamorgan have picked up two wins in their last two games, including a defeat of Somerset on Friday night at Taunton, their first win there since 2017. They followed that up with a comfortable victory over Kent Spitfires.
Meanwhile, the Hawks bowled out Sussex Sharks for just 134, having posted 196/8, but then came unstuck against Somerset on Sunday, as their opponents chased down 179 with two balls and four wickets to spare. They meet Middlesex on Wednesday afternoon and if, as anticipated, they win that game they draw within two points of Glamorgan, albeit having played one game more.
Hampshire have had to call in replacements for Dewald Brevis and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who were called up to the South Africa Test squad, and have gone with Australian all-rounder Hilton Cartwright, and countryman Chris Lynn. However, while Lynn scored 51 from just 27 balls against Sussex, he was injured for the Somerset match. He opened the batting with James Vince, who leads their run scoring with 309 runs at a strike rate of 146.44, including three fifties.
They also have plenty of T20 experience in the bowling department, with Chris Wood, Benny Howell and Liam Dawson, but it has been Scott Currie that has been leading the way with the ball, having taken 15 wickets.
Glamorgan have a more youthful side, with the resultant inconsistencies in performance that brings. However if Dan Douthwaite is firing, then they are always in with a shout. His 55 from 33 balls against Somerset rescued their innings, and if Tom Banton had held on to a straightforward chance behind the stumps when he was on three, the result would likely have been different. He is also delivering with the ball, having taken 14 wickets, albeit at a slightly pricey 8.78, but the batters are never going to be able to prejudge what is going to come out of his hand.
Glamorgan have been without their leading wicket taker in the competition, Mason Crane for their last two matches, out with a side strain. However, Swansea born Pakistan international Imad Wasim has been very economical with his left arm spin. Wasim came in for Hayden Kerr, who was injured after just two matches, but the Australian all-rounder is reported to still be in the camp.
They have also been able to rest their leading pace bowler Timm van der Gugten, while Ned Leonard has come into a purple patch, taking nine wickets in the last two matches, five against his old county Somerset. He has been well supported by Andy Gorvin.
Skipper Kiran Carlson leads the way with the bat, having scored 256 runs so far, while Colin Ingram posted his first fifty in the game against Somerset. Young Asa Tribe has backed up his impressive form in the Championship with useful runs in this competition, while another 21-year-old, Ben Kellaway continues to impress. After a poor start to the competition with the bat, Chris Cooke has been replaced by Alex Horton behind the stumps for the last two games, batting at three. He has looked rather frenetic with the ambition to push the score along, and the other option would be to bring in Billy Root, who has impressed in the second team, and give Will Smale the gloves.
This is a big game for the Hawks and man for man they look to have the edge, but belief is growing in this Glamorgan side and they won’t be daunted by the task ahead.
Key players
Scottish seamer Scott Currie is currently Hampshire’s leading wicket taker in this year’s Blast and will want to carry on impressing. He has played just one Championship game this season having had successful loan spells with Leicestershire in 2023 and 2024. Over the winter he signed a new deal with the club until the end of 2027, so undoubtedly he is seen as a replacement for the more senior members of the pace attack.
With a number of younger players in this Glamorgan side, Colin Ingram provides an experienced head in the middle of the batting line up. He had a slowish start to the competition, having made a superb start to the Championship season, only to be rested for the last two rounds before the start of the Blast, to allow for Marnus Labuschagne to come in. Whether that had an impact on his performance can be debated, but he made 306 runs at an average of 153 in the last two Championship games and has now scored 79 runs in the two Blast games since. He may have celebrated his 40th birthday last week, but he more than keeps up in the field.
Team news:
Chris Lynn was named in the Hampshire squad for the MIddlesex game, and it is assumed he is fit. Chris Wood was omitted, whether through injury or just rested.
Hampshire squad (from): James Vince Captain (c), Toby Albert (wk), Sonny Baker, Hilton Cartwright, Scott Currie, Liam Dawson, James Fuller, Benny Howell, Eddie Jack, Dom Kelly, Chris Lynn, Ali Orr, Tom Prest, Joe Weatherley, Chris Wood
Mason Crane was named in the Glamorgan squad for the last game and may return.
Glamorgan squad (from): Kiran Carlson (c), Tom Bevan, Mason Crane, Dan Douthwaite, Andy Gorvin, Alex Horton (wk), Colin Ingram, Ben Kellaway, Ned Leonard, Jamie McIlroy, Billy Root, Will Smale, Asa Tribe, Timm van der Gugten, Imad Wasim
Weather and Conditions
The forecast is for sun and warm temperatures.
There should be no problems with the pitch, and the scores may depend on how they set the boundaries.
Date: 10th July 2025
Time: 19:00
Ground: The Utilita Bowl, Southampton
