Hampshire Hawks claimed a dramatic victory over Rangpur Riders in their opening match of the 2024 Global Super League (GSL), thanks to a stunning performance by debutant Shan Masood.
His composed 56 from 41 balls, coupled with his key role in the Super Over, led the Hawks to a hard-fought win after both teams finished level on 132 runs at the end of their regular 20 overs.
Shan Masood, who only joined the squad in Guyana earlier in the week, came to the crease with the Hawks at 35-2 at the end of the powerplay. Alongside Ali Orr, Masood looked in fine form on a tricky pitch, helping to steady the innings with a 49-run partnership.
Despite tight bowling from the Riders, including a superb diving catch by Wayne Madsen to dismiss Orr for 28, Masood continued to anchor the innings.
With wickets falling around him, Masood reached a valuable half-century on debut. However, the Hawks’ innings faltered in the final overs, with Masood eventually falling for 56, leaving the side stranded on 132 at the end of their 20 overs.
In reply, the Riders got off to a strong start, reaching 46 without loss in just the fifth over. But Hampshire fought back, with Liam Dawson and Danny Briggs putting the brakes on the Riders’ progress.
Despite a steady partnership between Wayne Madsen and Khushdil Shah, both batsmen were run out in quick succession, leaving the Riders needing seven from the final six balls.
A fumble in the deep allowed the Riders to take two off the last ball, bringing the scores level and sending the match into a Super Over.
Khushdil Shah helped the Riders post 12 in the Super Over before Liam Dawson launched the penultimate ball into the stands, securing a remarkable win for Hampshire Hawks.
Shan Masood leads the GSL run-scoring charts for Hampshire after the first game, and his next assignment will come against the Table Topping Guyana Amazon Warriors.
This thrilling encounter was a fitting start to the 2024 Global Super League, showcasing the exciting talent and fierce competition the tournament promises to deliver.
| Team | Matches Played | Won | Lost | Tied | No Result | Points | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guyana Amazon Warriors | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | W |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | W |
| Lahore Qalandars | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | L |
| Rangpur Riders | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | L |
| Victoria | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
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