Afridi stamps mark as Hants hold on

Hampshire 158 for 8 (Carberry 54, Coles 4-27) beat Kent 149 (Bell-Drummond 64, Afridi 3-33) by nine runsScorecard

Nerveless bowling from Shahid Afridi kick-started Hampshire’s hopes of a seventh successive Natwest T20 Blast Finals Day. Afridi’s of 3 for 33, including the key wicket of Daniel Bell-Drummond, and a rapid 21 helped his new county to a nine-run victory over Kent.

After being put in by Kent captain Sam Northeast, Michael Carberry got Hampshire going with a firm cut to the boundary before hooking Matt Coles fine for another four.

Skipper James Vince, released by England to play in both this game and against Glamorgan on Friday, beautifully drove former academy pal David Griffiths to the point ropes. But the fast bowler had the last laugh as Vince tamely cut to Blake at cover.

Jimmy Adams carted the first Ageas Bowl maximum of the season, pinged way over midwicket. Carberry joined the six hitting party with a huge slog sweep as the hosts reached 47 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay, and Griffiths boasting impressive two over figures of 1 for 5.

The end of the fielding restrictions slowed Hampshire up, as Adams was caught on the deep-square leg boundary by Fabian Cowdrey – only 11 …

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