James Fuller pulls the rug from underneath Essex

• James Fuller continued his renaissance season by taking 4 wickets.
• James Vince led the Hawks in scoring with 44 points.
• Essex were outstanding on the field.

James Fuller continued his renaissance season by taking 4 for 30 as Hampshire Hawks beat Essex Eagles by 32 runs in the Vitality Blast.

After spending the winter honing his skills with new bowling coach Graeme Welch, allrounder James Fuller has become a key member of Hampshire’s first choice XIs in both the Blast and the LV= Insurance County Championship.

Read More:-  Sam Curran thrashes Hampshire with a brilliant all-round performance

Ben Allison had earlier claimed his best T20 figures of 3 for 33, while legspinner Matt Critchley had 3 for 25 to take his Blast tally to nine for the season. James Vince led the Hawks in scoring with 44 points.

n McDermott’s record opening partnership came to an end in the third over when the Australian edged Allison behind. However, Vince’s innings were an exception to the rule that the Hawks’ coach only produces pretty innings. He was forced to scrap on a tacky used wicket against accurate bowling, earning three fours and a six.

Read More:-  Hampshire wins after skipping Somerset for 69 runs, and Essex is on the verge of victory

Prest and Weatherley kept him company with 30 and 38 points, respectively, before Toby Albert cameoed with a 24 off 12 ball at the end.

In response, James Fuller castled Feroze Khushi as Essex struggled to find runs in the now soupy conditions. Wood dropped a steepler, which Liam Dawson did not repeat to dismiss Adam Rossington, giving Pepper a life before he had scored.

James Fuller bowled Paul Walter after he holed out after an adventurous 27. Wood and Wheal then combined for a classic death bowling performance, dismissing Tom Westley, Nijjar, Allison, and Sam Cook in the final three overs – no Essex batter ‘got in’.