Hampshire claim t20 title
Hampshire held their nerve despite a brutal late assault by Yorkshire's David Miller to claim their second Friends Life t20 title in three years at Cardiff's SWALEC Stadium.
The Royals followed up their 2010 success with a 10-run victory over a Tykes side who made a thrilling dash for the line courtesy of Miller's six-laden 72 not out.
The South African cleared the ropes five times and added five fours in his 46-ball knock but it was the more measured approach of Hampshire that ultimately won the day.
Jimmy Adams' 43 was the best they managed in a first-innings total of 150 for six but they triumphed due to the cool heads of opening bowlers Dimitri Mascarenhas and Liam Dawson as well as Chris Wood.
With 14 needed and Miller rampant, Wood conceded just three from the last over and finished up with wickets from the last two balls of the match.
He ended with three for 26, but there must also be significant praise for opening bowlers Dimitri Mascarenhas and Liam Dawson, whose four-over spells cost 20 and 21 respectively.
Hampshire were 36 for one at the end of the six-over powerplay and although James Vince was not timing the ball Jimmy Adams worked hard to locate the gaps, moving the score to 62 at the midpoint.
Adams added impetus by smearing Rich Pyrah for six over wide long-on but was caught by Gary Ballance looking for a repeat off the very next ball and Neil McKenzie followed swiftly for four, the impressive Azeem Rafiq winning a deserved lbw decision.
Pyrah let some of the pressure slip as he shipped 12 off his final over, new man Sean Ervine hoisting his fourth ball for six and Vince finally got going with two boundaries off Moin Ashraf but the seamer took swift revenge by bowling him for 36.
Sidebottom used all his experience to halt any late charge, conceding just 11 off his last two overs and having the dangerous Ervine caught for 21. Simon Katich rallied late with 25 from 21 deliveries and an apparently middling total of 150 proved enough to bring the trophy back to the Rose Bowl.
