White: Lethal Lumb is the best around
GILES WHITE hailed Michael Lumb as the most destructive Twenty20 batsman in the country after another famous Rose Bowl innings.
The Hampshire left-hander has been in supreme form in the shortest format of the game with 124 not out and 59 in his previous two knocks and added a stunning 93 as the Hawks claimed a 28-run victory over Middlesex Panthers.
The win lifted Hampshire into second place in the south division, with the top two places securing qualification and third place also likely to seal a quarter-final spot with just two games to go in the group phase.
But the Hampshire manager is hoping that Lumb's remarkable form – which saw him become this year's competition's leading run-scorer – will continue into Friday's showdown with Kent at the Rose Bowl and Sunday's trip to Essex.
White said: 'Michael Lumb has excelled in this competition. He's shown everyone what a good player he is.
'I thought we were a bit stop-start around him and we possibly could have got more runs, but 180 is always a good score and we defended it
very well.
'Lumby has been outstanding. He is a dangerous player up front, I would imagine that other sides talk about him a lot in their team meetings before games and he's got on a bit of a roll.
'He is getting better all the time. When you look at it, there is nobody else performing like him around the country at the moment.
'I think he is right up there as the most dominant opening batsman in the country in this form of the game and long may it continue.
'Hopefully, he can continue that roll for the next couple of games because he puts a lot of pressure on the bowlers every time he bats.'
The typically modest Lumb said: 'Fortunately for me the ball landed in my areas.
'I tried to play good cricket shots by just focusing on watching the ball and getting my timing right.
'After coming up short against Kent this was a massive game so it's just good to get another win.'
But White was a satisfied man after his side produced a disciplined bowling performance to defend their 183 total – especially after Monday night's wayward bowling sent Hampshire to defeat at Kent.
White said: 'It was a vital win for us. We did the job, but it was touch and go at one stage.
Middlesex got themselves back into the game, but towards the end we bowled particularly well and won comfortably in the end.
'I was far happier with the bowling this time. I think you need games where you're under pressure and you come out on top.
'We didn't manage it against Kent but we bounced back well.
'That is all you can ask of the players.'
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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