Chris Wood insisted Hampshire cannot rely on replicating the “freak” circumstances that led to their Vitality Blast triumph last year after starting this campaign with a resounding defeat.
Hampshire lost their first four matches last season before turning the tide with 12 wins in 13 to be crowned champions but their title defence started in forgettable fashion at Somerset on Wednesday.
All out for 74 in 16.1 overs against an attack featuring Craig Overton, Matt Henry and Peter Siddle, Hampshire were well beaten at Taunton as their opponents chased down a meagre target in 57 balls for the loss of only two wickets.
Wood hopes Hampshire can rebound against Middlesex – the second match in a double header at the Ageas Bowl on Friday, with reigning Charlotte Edwards Cup champions Southern Vipers taking on Western Storm.
“We need to bounce back because last year was a freak, if we lose our first four games this year then (winning the competition) is not going to happen again,” Wood told the PA news agency.
“We do need to turn it round quickly but it’s just a case of wiping out the defeat and understanding it can happen. We’ll dust ourselves off and go again.
“They had three Test bowlers at the end of the day that are seriously good and seriously accurate and it nipped around.
“The stats are saying you need 200 at Taunton – it’s the highest scoring ground in the world – but you’re four for two and still feel like you need to get 170 to be in the game, it just happens.”
In the 20-year history of the Blast, no team has retained the title and while ending that record is a major ambition for Wood, his main focus is on helping Hampshire to a home quarter-final.
While the left-arm seamer has been a part of nine Finals Days dating back to 2010, going all the way on three occasions, only twice have they guaranteed themselves a home clash at the last-eight stage.
“I think we owe our fans that,” he added. “Being champions we’re now going to be the hunted, every team is now going to be coming after us this year, there’s no free game in the group whatsoever.
“We’re going to have to play some very good cricket if we want to go somewhere close again this year.”
The Vipers have rejigged their top order as captain Georgia Adams moved down to number four, with Maia Bouchier opening alongside Danni Wyatt in their curtain-raiser against South East Stars on Tuesday.
The pair put on 56 in 4.4 overs, with Bouchier thumping 30 off 18 deliveries, to help the Vipers off to a flyer at Newbury, where they reeled in a target of 170 with six wickets and seven balls to spare.
“At one point I thought they were going to chase down the total in eight overs, especially the way Maia was batting until she got ran out,” Adams said.
“The way Maia Bouchier plays and how she hits down the ground, comfortably lofting it over mid-on and mid-off, is quite special. She’s been a huge talent for us at the Vipers and we want to give her a go.
“She’s trying to knock on England’s door and England might potentially have opportunities at the top in the next couple of years. For her it’s a great move especially if the other day was anything to go by.”
:: Vitality Blast champions Hampshire Hawks team up with women’s T20 champs Southern Vipers for a double header at The Ageas Bowl on Friday 26 May. Tickets are still available at www.ageasbowl.com
Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series
Phil Salt hit a superb century as England drew first blood in their T20 series against West Indies, with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval.
Salt's unbeaten 103 off 54 balls was the highlight for the tourists, who successfully chased down their target of 183 with 19 balls to spare.
The West Indies endured a difficult start and were reduced to 18-3 and later 117-8, with Saqib Mahmood (4-34) and Adil Rashid (3-32) doing the damage.
However, the hosts managed 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs to finish at 182-8, with Gukadesh Motie knocking 33 off 14 balls along the way.
Salt kick-started England's chase with 50 off just 25 deliveries taking them to 73-1 after six overs, with Will Jacks (17) dismissed with the final ball of the powerplay.
Jos Buttler's first match after four months out lasted just three minutes, as the skipper was caught by Motie for a golden duck.
However, it proved a false dawn for West Indies, with Salt and Jacob Bethall (58 from 36 balls) safely steering England to victory.
Data Debrief: Salt completes hat-trick of hundreds as Bethell makes historic half-century
England put their disappointing ODI series behind them, making history with the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval.
Salt was the hero with his third T20I century, all of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.
Bethell also made history on Saturday. Aged 21 years and 17 days, he become the youngest England player to score a 50 in a T20I.
Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies
Sri Lanka wrapped up the ODI series against the West Indies with a five-wicket victory in Pallekele.
The hosts successfully chased down their opponents' total of 189, giving them an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka controlled the early powerplay - Asitha Fernando (3-35) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25) took two wickets apiece to leave the tourists at 31-4 in the ninth over.
Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) then claimed three of his four wickets as Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph were all dismissed in the space of 14 balls.
However, Sherfane Rutherford (80 off 82 balls) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) steadied the ship to take the Windies from 58-8 to 189.
Although Joseph claimed Avishka Fernando (9) in the fourth over, Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama both chipped in with contributions of 38 to get the hosts to 112-4.
Skipper Charith Asalanka (62 not out) led the charge thereon, while Kamindu Mendis (11) comfortably got them over the line with 34 balls remaining.
Data Debrief: Rutherford-Motie historic stand proves academic for tourists
West Indies were looking to level the series, but their hopes were not aided by Sri Lanka's impressive bowling.
Rutherford and Motie did their best. Their partnership brought 119 runs, which is their nation's highest ninth-wicket stand in ODI history, breaking the previous record of 85 between Yannic Cariah and Alzarri Joseph.
However, it ultimately proved in vain as the hosts secured the series with a game to spare.
'I was a tired, grumpy old man' - Stokes apologised to England team-mates after Pakistan defeat
Ben Stokes says he apologised to his England team-mates after his frustrations were evident during the second-Test defeat by Pakistan.
The hosts levelled the three-Test series on Thursday after wrapping up a 152-run win in Multan.
However, it could have been a different story but for fielding errors at crucial stages for the visitors, Jamie Smith and Joe Root notably dropping catches to dismiss Salman Agha, whose subsequent knock of 63 helped Pakistan seal victory with a day to spare.
Stokes, who returned to action following a hamstring injury, could not hide his frustration during a difficult day for England, but insisted he would not let his emotions get the better of him again.
"No one means to drop catches, but it just proves how important catches are in these subcontinent conditions, they don't come along that often," he told Sky Sports.
"I actually apologised to the group last night. It's the first time in my captaincy that I've let my emotions and how I was feeling with the way the game was unfolding show in my body language.
"I owned up to that and was very annoyed at myself for letting that out. It's something that I don't want to do or be seen to be doing, so I apologised to the group about that.
"Poor old me, I was a tired, grumpy old man last night! You won't see that happen again."
However, England coach Brendon McCullum defended the actions of his skipper.
"We all know how passionate Ben is, how much it means for him to play for England," he said.
"We've seen that through his bloody-mindedness to get back from injury, which was significant, and to do so in a nine-week timeframe and to have his first TM [Test match] in extreme conditions, 40 degrees, and be able to give what he gave to the side.
"I think, maybe, that's where some of that frustration led to - certainly, it wasn't directed at any of the players. It was more about trying to assess the rhythm of the game, and to impact on it."
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