Still comfortably Lumb – recalling Hampshire’s highest ever T20 individual innings

It was on a Thursday evening in early June 2009 when Michael Lumb struck the first T20 century by a Hampshire player.
Michael Lumb celebrates with Michael Carberry after hitting Hampshire's first ever T20 century against Essex in June 2009. Picture: Rob AtkinsMichael Lumb celebrates with Michael Carberry after hitting Hampshire's first ever T20 century against Essex in June 2009. Picture: Rob Atkins
Michael Lumb celebrates with Michael Carberry after hitting Hampshire's first ever T20 century against Essex in June 2009. Picture: Rob Atkins

In the seventh season of the 20-over format, the opening batsman compiled an unbeaten 124 against Essex Eagles at The Ageas Bowl.

It was the 26th century recorded in the English T20 tournament - Australian Ian Harvey, later to play for Hampshire having scored three of them, including the very first one in 2003.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At the time Lumb’s century was the third highest - beaten only by Graham Napier (152, Essex v Sussex, 2008) and Cameron White (141 not out, Somerset v Worcestershire, 2006).

James Vince on his way to his only T20 century against Worcestershire at New Road in 2015. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images.James Vince on his way to his only T20 century against Worcestershire at New Road in 2015. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images.
James Vince on his way to his only T20 century against Worcestershire at New Road in 2015. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images.

Twelve years on, and Lumb is down to 14th in the all-time list of highest individual innings. As T20 has grown around the world into the money-making machine it is today, so have the scores.

Currently, Yorkshire’s Adam Lyth holds the record for the highest T20 innings in the English county competition - 161 not out against Northants four years ago.

Lumb, though, remains comfortably out in front in the Hampshire record books.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Only four players have subsequently hit a T20 century for the county - Jimmy Adams (twice), James Vince, Shahid Afridi and Michael Carberry.

Shahid Afridi on his way to a century at Derbyshire in 2017. Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images.Shahid Afridi on his way to a century at Derbyshire in 2017. Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images.
Shahid Afridi on his way to a century at Derbyshire in 2017. Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images.

Vince, Afridi and Carberry saved theirs for the big occasion - all reaching three figures in quarter-final victories to help Hampshire to Finals Day at Edgbaston.

Here, The News looks back at Hampshire’s top 10 innings in this country.

Michael Lumb

124 not out, v Essex, Ageas Bowl, 2009

Michael Carberry celebrates reaching his T20 century against Lancashire in 2013. Picture: Neil MarshallMichael Carberry celebrates reaching his T20 century against Lancashire in 2013. Picture: Neil Marshall
Michael Carberry celebrates reaching his T20 century against Lancashire in 2013. Picture: Neil Marshall

The former Yorkshire batsman reached his century in 56 balls with 11 fours and four sixes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was to share a second wicket stand of 170 in 15.2 overs with Michael Carberry (62) as Hampshire posted 219-2.

That remains the highest stand for Hampshire for any wicket in T20 history.

In reply, Essex crumbled to 15-3 and were eventually dismissed for 144. Among the losing side was wicket-keeper Adam Wheater, who is expected to line-up against Hampshire again tomorrow night when the Hawks visit Chelmsford in their second 2021 Vitality Blast fixture.

Hampshire's Jimmy Adams celebrates his century against Surrey Lions in 2010. Picture: Robin JonesHampshire's Jimmy Adams celebrates his century against Surrey Lions in 2010. Picture: Robin Jones
Hampshire's Jimmy Adams celebrates his century against Surrey Lions in 2010. Picture: Robin Jones

James Vince

107 not out, v Worcestershire, New Road, 2015

The skipper led from the front, reaching what remains his only T20 hundred off 60 balls with 13 fours and three sixes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That helped Hampshire post 196-4 and after rain arrived with the hosts 58-2 in reply Vince’s side were declared 17-run winners under the Duckworth/Lewis Method.

Earlier in the season, Vince had been left stranded on 99 not out against Kent and also made an unbeaten 90 against Sussex. He was to end the 2015 season with a new tournament record of 710 runs, a record he still holds.

The previous year, Vince had made an unbeaten 93 against Nottinghamshire.

Shane Watson goes up to collect his man of the match award after hitting 97 against Kent in 2004. Picture: Malcolm Wells.Shane Watson goes up to collect his man of the match award after hitting 97 against Kent in 2004. Picture: Malcolm Wells.
Shane Watson goes up to collect his man of the match award after hitting 97 against Kent in 2004. Picture: Malcolm Wells.

Jimmy Adams

101 not out, v Surrey, Ageas Bowl, 2010

Entering the game with a highest T20 score of 68, the opener reached three figures in 64 balls with seven fours and four sixes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Adams’ century was scored against a Surrey attack including his former Hants colleague Chris Tremlett, South African Andre Nel and Australian Andrew Symonds.

After Hampshire had posted 201-2, Surrey replied with 191-9.

Shahid Afridi

101, v Derbyshire, Derby, 2017

The Pakistan international all-rounder struck the most explosive century in Hampshire’s T20 history in a quarter-final romp in the east Midlands.

Opening the batting, Afridi raced to his first-ever T20 ton in just 42 balls with 10 fours and seven sixes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With James Vince adding 55, Hampshire totalled 249-9 - easily the county’s highest score in the shortest form of the game and the sixth highest between games involving English teams.

Shell-shocked Derbyshire, who were appearing in their first-ever quarter-final, were bowled out for 148 as Hampshire reached Finals Day for the seventh time.

Michael Carberry

100 not out, v Lancashire, Ageas Bowl, 2013

Carberry’s century came in one of Hampshire’s greatest ever T20 matches.

After being put in, the opener reached three figures off the last ball of the innings as Hampshire posted 202-3 in a quarter-final tie.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Carberry’s century occupied 66 balls and contained 11 fours and three sixes.

In reply, Lancashire looked beaten when they slumped to 133-4 off the first ball of the 15th over.

But in the end Hampshire won by just a single run after Steven Croft (43 not out off 29 balls) and Gareth Cross (32 not out off 17) had threatened a remarkable recovery act.

Jimmy Adams

100 not out, v Glamorgan, Ageas Bowl, 2010

Adams compiled his second T20 century in a matter of weeks off 61 balls with 16 boundaries.

After posting 199-5, the hosts won by 54 runs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hampshire went on to win the T20 silverware for the first time that year, beating Somerset in a dramatic final at The Ageas Bowl. Adams was the tournament’s leading run scorer with a new record aggregate of 668 runs at 39.29.

James Vince

99 not out, v Kent, Canterbury, 2015

Vince was agonisingly close to a century as Hampshire claimed a dramatic success.

Asked to chase 184 at a required rate of 10.22 in a game reduced to 18 overs per side by an early evening thunderstorm, Vince struck 99 from 57 balls to see the visitors home with one delivery to spare.

Hampshire won when Vince collected his eighth boundary, after previously hitting five sixes as well.

Shane Watson

97, v Kent, Ageas Bowl, 2004

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Australian all-rounder had been close to scoring Hampshire’s first-ever T20 century in only the second season of the T20 Cup in 2004.

In only the fifth T20 innings of his career, Watson struck an unbeaten 97 off 68 balls, with nine fours and three sixes, as Hampshire posted 177-3 - Kent falling way short in reply on 113-9.

Watson went on to enjoy a stellar T20 career, and remains the 10th highest run scorer of all time with 8,872 from 343 matches.

Though he missed out against Kent, he was to score six T20 centuries - though he would have to wait until 2013 for his first one.

Watson’s highest T20 innings was 124 not out for Australia against India in January 2016.

Related topics: