Hampshire hopeful of being able to call on James Vince for One-Day Cup semi-final

Captain Vince scored 430 runs in the group stage, the fourth highest in the country, which included a county record 190 against Gloucestershire

Hampshire are still holding out hope that James Vince will be available for their Royal London One-Day Cup semi-final on Sunday.

Captain Vince scored 430 runs in the group stage, the fourth highest in the country, which included a county record 190 against Gloucestershire.

The talismanic batsman is currently away with England for their one-day series with Pakistan.

But Sam Northeast has revealed that Hampshire could still play Vince against either Lancashire or Middlesex, if he doesn’t play for his nation at the Ageas Bowl on Saturday.

“We are still waiting on Vincey’s availability so we are hoping he might be free if he doesn’t get a game for England,” Northeast, who would skipper the side in Vince’s absence, said.

“We don’t know when we will hear. England have a game the day before so it might be quite late. We are in the hands of the ECB.”

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Holders Hampshire will definitely be without their leading run scorer so far in the competition, Aiden Markram, who has joined up with South Africa’s World Cup squad.

But Northeast is confident that without Markram, and potentially Vince, Hampshire have enough strength in depth – with Joe Weatherley scoring a century for the Second XI on Wednesday.

“When you lose two of your big batters it is always a big loss,” Northeast said.

“There are quite a few boys in the twos scoring runs, (Aneurin) Donald has come in and opened the batting and scored some crucial runs and given us some fliers.

“The squad has a lot of depth to it and I have a lot of faith that whoever comes in will do a really good job.

“Joe’s been in really good touch for the last month which is really pleasing to see. He has gone back to the twos and churned out the runs and put himself back in the frame to be selected.

“There is absolute confidence that he will come in and do a role.”

Report courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network

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