By Neil Fissler
BOBBY PARKS believes Hampshire were the underdogs when they played their first Cup Final against Derbyshire in 1988.
Hampshire had won the Championship twice and the Sunday League three times but hadn’t ever lifted either of the one-day knock out cups.
But that was about to change. Zonal round wins over Somerset, Glamorgan and Mike Atherton’s Combined Universities side saw them into the quarter-finals.
Hampshire, who have regularly collected one-day trophies since, appeared to be heading out of the competition chasing 170 to beat Worcestershire in the quart-finals they slipped to 114-7.
It needed a classy 87 from Robin Smith to see them home and Parks says it was after that win that they thought their name was on the trophy.
“It was the first time that we had been in a one-day cup final. We had won the Sunday League three times but we had never been in a knockout final,” said Parks.
“We got close a few times, we played in three or four semi finals but didn’t quite get there. But there were quite a few good teams around.
“We played against the likes of Lancashire, Kent and Essex who were all strong teams, so there was always the potential of a tricky tie.
“But it seemed to go our way in 1988. The rain nearly robbed us at Worcester in the quarter finals. We were dead and buried getting bowled out at one stage.
“But Robin Smith got some runs and saw it through. That was a big, big win for us and one that gave us hope. It was then we knew that our name was on the trophy.”
The draw wasn’t kind however when they were pulled out of the hat to travel to Essex, who had been county champions three times in the previous six seasons and were at the height of their power. But Hampshire prevailed over two days as they chased down 239 to win by seven wickets thanks to a century from Paul Terry.
“It was rain interrupted which was quite worrying because I think we were behind the rate over-night, so we needed the second day to win the game,” Parks added.
“Essex were a very good team with Graham Gooch, Neil Foster, Derek Pringle and players like that. They were a particularly good one day side and had a history of winning competitions.
“So it was a massive game for us. It was a final for us because it got us through to our first one-day final, we went up there determined just to have some fun.
“Paul Terry saw us through. We had a very strong batting side and you were always hopeful one of the top batters would get you a winning score.”
The final proved to be a massive anti climax for the neutral observer. South African left-armer Stephen Jefferies taking 5-13 to bowl Derbyshire out for 117. Only John Morris, 42 off 79 balls before being run out, offered any resistance and Hampshire cruised to victory by seven wickets.
“We were the underdogs in that final without a doubt. Hampshire was looked upon at the time as a small provincial county,” added Parks.
“But Stephen who came in for Malcolm Marshall who was away with the West Indies bowled brilliantly after they got away to a flyer.
“Mark Nicholls then took a bit of a gamble and put himself in at short leg off Stephen’s bowling and from then on everything went our way and they were dead and buried inside an hour.
“Derbyshire had Michael Holding, Ole Mortensen and Devon Malcolm and they came hard at us but Robin scored a quick 38 and saw us through.
“When we wanted one to win, the whole crowd was waiting to cheer when somebody hit it but Allan Warner bowled a no-ball and it was a bit of a damp squib.”
BACK ROW (left-right):
Rajesh Maru: Left arm spinner stayed on at Hampshire as a coach and is now working as a freelance coach.
Cardigan Connor: The fast bowler is back in Anguilla and works as a coach and activities manager for Cap Juluca Hotel. Was Chef de Mission for Anguilla at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Robin Smith: Former England batsman is now living in Australia where he is running Masuri cricket helmets and RS Cricket Clothing in the Perth area.
Jon Ayling: All-rounder who became Hampshire’s bowling coach and then took charge of the seconds before becoming cricket professional at Dauntsey’s School in Wiltshire.
Steve Andrew: Fast bowler who became a chartered surveyor. Was business development manager for Wolton Chartered Surveyors and is now a consultant for De Villiers.
Stephen Jefferies: South African all-rounder is now back in Cape Town, where he has worked in property sales.
Kevan James: Fast bowler who settled in the Hampshire area and has been a director of Southampton Motor Auction for eight years. Also a cricket commentator for BBC Radio Solent.
Bobby Parks: A wicketkeeper like his father Jim, he has coached the French cricket team and been Hampshire’s keeper coach and is now academy director.
FRONT ROW (left-right):
Chris Smith: South African born England batsman and brother of Robin. Now lives in Australia where he was marketing manager and chief executive of Western Australia Cricket Association.
David Turner: Left-handed batsman is now running a shoe repair business, The Shoe Box, in his native Chippenham, Wiltshire that he took over from his father.
Mark Nicholas: A batsman whose grandfather Fred captained Essex. He works in the media for the Nine Network in Australia and is presenter and commentator of Cricket on Five.
Paul Terry: An opening batsman who played for England in a plaster cast. He coached Hampshire and is now living in Perth, Western Australia where he runs his own cricket academy. Son Sean is now on the Hampshire staff.
Nigel Cowley: Middle order batsman and spinner joined the first class umpires list soon after retiring from playing in 1990.
NOT PICTURED:
Richard Scott: Left handed batsman was director of cricket of Dorset before joining the coaching staff at Middlesex, where he is now head coach.
Paul-Jan Bakker: Medium pace bowler who was the first Dutchman to play county cricket. Has worked as a ski instructor, cricket coach and as an airline pilot.
Adrian Aymes: A wicketkeeper who went into football management with Fleet Town and then fitness coach and general manager of Havant & Waterlooville.
Tim Tremlett: Fast bowler and the father of Surrey’s Chris. Father Maurice played for Somerset and England. Is now Hampshire’s director of cricket.
This piece originally featured in The Cricket Paper on Friday July 24, 2015
