Hampshire coach Birrell pinpoints T20 Blast weakness after latest loss to Essex

After being reduced to 63-7, the county could only muster 114-9 in a 54-run loss to Essex at The Ageas Bowl.

It was Hampshire’s sixth defeat in seven completed games, and only rain prevented another loss against Kent at Canterbury.

‘It was very disappointing,’ said Birrell. ‘Things aren’t going well for us.

‘I thought our bowlers bowled well, we were good in the field, we only had two extras and Afridi was outstanding and at half time I thought it was gettable.

‘Then 37 for four in the powerplay puts you in the back foot and then two more wickets quickly after. We were out of it very soon.

‘Straight away we were two for two so it was always going to be hard work after that.

‘You need a strong powerplay, and our powerplay throughout the tournament and in the last few years has not been good.

‘We know what to work on and we are trying to make it right.’

Hampshire have been forced to play the 2020 season without established names such as Kyle Abbott, Rilee Rossouw and Fidel Edwards due to the pandemic.

Liam Dawson suffered a season-ending injury in his only county appearance against Middlesex last month, while Keith Barker has also been injured and Aneurin Donald has not played at all following winter knee surgery.

In addition, skipper James Vince has only played the last four T20 games after the birth of his second child.

‘It has been a hard season with quite a few players out,’ said Birrell. ‘We did all right in the four dayers but this hasn’t been good.

‘When things start to go badly for you and you lose confidence it is hard to get onto a winning side.

‘It takes just one good innings to spark a fire amongst some team-mates.’