FRESH from his maiden first-class hundred, Joe Weatherley is relishing the challenge of playing against his Kent pals in his first Lord’s final today.

The Hampshire batsman, who made an unbeaten 126 in the county championship draw against Lancashire on Thursday, spent last season on loan at Kent, playing in five county championship matches without breaking into the white-ball side.

But he will be a key player in the Hampshire team that plays Kent in today’s Royal London One-Day Cup final.

“Being against Kent certainly adds a different dimension to it,” smiles the 21 year-old.

“[Former Kent captain] Sam [Northeast] and I were talking about it and would have preferred it not to be Kent.

“There have been a few jibes and jokes with the Kent lads. I have some close friends in their dressing room and I know it’ll be a big day for them, they’re on a good run in all cricket and being there will mean a lot as they haven’t been in a final for a while.

“They’ll be enemies on the day but we’ll have a beer afterwards whatever the result.”

Weatherley scored his first Hampshire century, albeit in a one-run defeat, against Kent during the group stage and is hoping to do better than his only previous appearance at Lord’s.

In 2013 he played there for an England Schools side including the likes of Haseeb Hameed and Aneurin Donald. “That slope got me strangled down the legside for a duck - I hope I have better memories on Saturday!”

Winchester-born Weatherley has vague memories of 2005, when England’s first Ashes success for 18 years was followed by Hampshire’s C & G Trophy win at Lord’s - the county’s first silverware for 13 years.

“That would be my earlies cricket memory and you see a lot of pictures of it around the ground, ,” he says, before recalling Hampshire’s last major trophy win.

“I have better memories of being at Lord’s as fan for the last-ball thriller against Warwickshire with mum and dad in 2012.

“It’s something you dream of but I didn’t think I’d be there as soon as this.

“James Tomlinson was saying he went through his whole career without playing at Lord’s so we know how special it is.” Turn to page 63

Hopefully the sun’s out and it’s a day to remember.”

Weatherley is one of several homegrown players who have been involved in this season’s One-Day Cup yet to play in a Lord’s final.

Mason Crane (back) is an injury doubt and Brad Taylor (ankle) is definitely out but Tom Alsop, Lewis McManus will play.

“It’s special to have homegrown players in the squad playing for each other and enjoying each other’s success,” he continues.

“Jimmy [Adams], Vincey, Daws and Woody have been in a lot of finals and finals days so hopefully we can put that experience to good use.

“We also produced good young talent in [Danny] Briggs and [Michael] Bates and in some ways the core of myself Brad, Mason, Lewis and Tom aren’t dissimilar to that group. Hopefully we can push on and do as well as the others.

“There’s been a lot of talk about Kolpaks but the management have really backed the young and homegrown players and hopefully that has been shown to the members and fans.

“It is nice knowing what everyone’s strengths and weaknesses are and their roles in that team. We have just had fun. When your mates do well as you are genuinely chuffed for them.”