Hampshire batter Tristan Stubbs delivered a standout performance on his T20 Blast debut, scoring 69 off 42 balls less than 24 hours after arriving in the country from his Indian Premier League commitments.
Stubbs’ knock helped the Hawks secure a 30-run victory over Essex at the Utilita Bowl on Tuesday night, marking Hampshire’s first win of the season’s competition.
The South African all-rounder admitted that despite the tight turnaround following his late arrival, making his debut for the county was a positive experience.
“I actually really enjoyed today so I’m glad I could play,” he told BBC Radio Solent after the match.
Stubbs explained the hectic schedule, saying: “I landed at eight o’clock last night, got to my accommodation just after 10, and I was here at seven thirty for medical testing, so I’ve not had much sleep. All my pre-match things that I normally do are no longer going to happen, so yeah, I’ll take it!”
Stubbs joined Hampshire in February and had no prior T20 Blast experience, though he previously played in The Hundred last summer and will feature again this year for Southern Brave.