Home truths for Hampshire skipper James Vince after T20 Blast finale – ‘we haven’t been good enough the last couple of years’

Hampshire skipper James Vince was in straight-talking mood after watching Shaheen Afridi end a dismal T20 Blast campaign in record-breaking fashion.
James Vince scored just 93 runs in six T20 Blast games in 2020. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire.James Vince scored just 93 runs in six T20 Blast games in 2020. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire.
James Vince scored just 93 runs in six T20 Blast games in 2020. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

Afridi bagged a county-best 6-19 in the shortest format, including the last four wickets in successive balls, as Hampshire ended a shocking run of six straight defeats with victory over Middlesex.

‘It has been long overdue and Shaheen finished it brilliantly there,’ said Vince.

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‘It doesn’t really make up for the last few weeks and the performances we put in but it is nice to end on some kind of a high.

‘The results haven’t been for a lack of hard work.

‘We had good success as a one-day side three or four years ago where we made Finals Days regularly and won trophies but we haven’t gone forward as individuals and a side since then.

‘Where we were leading the way we have been caught up and overtaken. It is important that we use this winter to get better.

‘There is no question about it, we haven’t been good enough this year and, if we are being honest with ourselves, the last couple of years.’

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Vince himself played the last six games after the birth of his second child, but only managed 93 runs at 15.5 - and 48 of those came in one innings.

‘The games I have played at the back end, I haven’t felt great,’ he confessed.

‘I don’t want to make excuses; I should be performing better.

‘For the more experienced guys we should be more consistent.’