HAMPSHIRE bowler John Turner was pleased to end a disappointing T20 Blast campaign with a win over Essex on Friday evening. 

Turner produced his best T20 figures to knock Essex out of the Blast. The Eagles, who were losing finalists in 2023, only needed a point at Utilita Bowl to overtake Gloucestershire into fourth but were undone by Turner’s four for 23.

Ben McDermott’s exquisite 64, together with 41s for James Vince and Tom Prest got Hawks to a defendable 181.

Essex looked out of it at 58 for five but teenagers Luc Benkenstein and Charlie Allison crashed maiden T20 half-centuries in an 86-run stand.

But Turner’s return at the death ended their hopes of a quarter-final place as Hawks secured a fourth win of an otherwise poor competition by seven runs.

“It's nice to finish off the competition with a win. It has been a disappointing competition as a team as no aspects have fired consistently.

“I think the start with Vince and McDermott was really nice and we were able to kick on from there and then with the ball we were good.

“It is nice to get my best figures. It feels like a tough competition where things haven’t fired for me on a personal note but it is good to have that period and hopefully come out stronger for it.

“People know what I’m about a bit more now. Last year I was fresh on the scene and no one really expected much or really knew what I could do.

"Now batters have clear plans against me but I’ve also not executed. At the end of the competition, I just tried to enjoy it, bowl fast and clear my mind – that seems to have worked.

“We had nothing to lose tonight but we could upset the party for Essex and make their life a bit more difficult.

“I got a message from my good mate (and Gloucestershire player) Dom Goodman this morning asking if ‘we could do a job for us’.

“It was nice to help them out a bit and hopefully they can get to finals day and enjoy that moment.”

Hampshire have also missed out on finals day, having qualified for three straight years, after a poor showing this year.

Hampshire finished seventh in their nine-team South group having earned 11 points from four wins across 14 games. Adi Birrell's side recorded a net run rate of -0.556.