Simpson’s Stellar Performance Puts Hampshire on the Ropes

John Simpson provided yet another stunning display of wicket-keeping to Division One NatWest T20 cricket. His 106 runs not out were pivotal in placing his team, Leicestershire, in a commanding position against Hampshire. The full match happened over the weekend so please check it out! Throughout it, Simpson shared an important 173-run partnership with fellow South Australian Fynn Hudson-Prentice. This victory represented a key turning point for Simpson, who had not finished in triple digits in 2023 prior to this battle.

Simpson hit his hundred off 207 balls and constructed an impressive innings to demonstrate his growing confidence at the crease. His path to the hundred was not without drama. He was dropped on another piece of Kamindu magic on a failed pull shot, and Hampshire would quickly rue that miss. This century marks Simpson’s third of the campaign and his 18th first-class century career-wise. Before this game, he had already scored five centuries in 2024, a clear sign of his return to form.

The bottom of the 8 th started with a little fire. Simpson made his half-century in scant time, getting to the mark in 111 balls before the lunch interval. His excelling batting performance ensured the victory momentum did not stumble after a slight dip on the first evening. Jack Carson soon became an equally fluent co-conspirator in spreading it. In tandem, they locked down in innings, expertly working through tough stretches.

Ultimately, Simpson’s knack for turning his opportunities into runs would prove a difference maker. He played his first ball in Test cricket yesterday and got dropped. As far as giving a glimpse into just how fragile Hampshire’s fielding truly is, this moment was emblematic. That alliance, of 209 for the fourth wicket, not only upped their runs-paced but put Hampshire’s bowlers under a constant barrage of pressure.

Simpson’s back-to-back centuries in this century. This streak serves as his return to form and proves himself to be an integral part of his team. His performance came at a make-or-break moment in the game. It left Hampshire in a precarious position as they fought to prevent a nonstop assault with the bat.