Great Australian batsman Hilton Cartwright returns to Utilita Bowl for a second stint with Hampshire Hawks.
The 33-year-old joined the club for the second half of last year’s Vitality Blast and made an immediate impact, catching the second ball of the innings against Sussex Sharks and completing a direct hit as the Hawks defeated their local rivals in the classic.
In seven matches, Cartwright hit 213 runs at an average of 35.50 with a phenomenal strike rate of 197.22.
His two fifties came in the final group match against Essex and 61 from just 31 deliveries in the quarter-final against Durham at Chester-le-Street.
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Delighted
Cartwright said: “I’m delighted to be back with the Hawks for another season. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the club last summer.”
“Although we missed out on the title, reaching Final Day more times than any other province is a special achievement and hopefully we can go one step further this time.”
Against Glamorgan in Utilita Bowl, Cartwright blew 48 runs off just 20 balls as the Hawks scored 208.
During his time with the Hawks, Cartwright won five and lost two games and helped the club reach Final Day for the eleventh time.
Influence
Giles White, director of cricket at Hampshire, added: “Having Hilton available for the entire tournament is a big plus for us.
“He showed he can take control in match-defining innings last summer, and we look forward to seeing him bring the same impact again this summer in the Utilita.”
Following his productive campaign in the Vitality Blast, Cartwright joined Southern Brave in The Hundred for seven games.
He continued his good form with 111 runs at a strike rate of 163.23, including 51* off just 19 deliveries against Welsh Fire at Sophia Gardens, as the Brave won by just four runs.
In this winter’s Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia, Cartwright scored 93 points as he scored 136.76 points for Melbourne Stars, who qualified for the BBL Knockout match.
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