Chris Wood aiming to tame Bears (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Chris Wood aiming to tame Bears

8:00am Thursday 13th September 2012 in Sport By Graham Merry

BASINGSTOKE cricketer Chris Wood will be hoping to help Hampshire to their second limited overs trophy of the season when the Royals take on the Warwickshire Bears in the Clydesdale Bank 40 final at Lord’s on Saturday.

The 20-year-old played a major role last month as Hampshire won the Twenty20 Cup as he bowled a very tense final over in their victory over Yorkshire.

The Basingstoke-born player is second highest wicket taker for Hampshire in 40 overs competition this season behind Danny Briggs who will miss the game as he is on England duty.

Wood will be hoping to add to his 16 victims and a repeat of a five-wicket haul he took earlier in the season would do very nicely.

Wood said: “It has been one of my ambitions to play in a final at Lord’s so I just can’t wait. We have had an excellent season at limited overs cricket, and it would be great to top it off with victory on Saturday.”

Hampshire have tasted Lord’s final success five times – the last being in 2009 when they beat Sussex. In 2005, Basingstoke cricketer Shaun Udal lifted the trophy when Hampshire beat Warwickshire at Lord’s after an 18-run victory. Wood is currently in action at Derby in Hampshire’s final County Championship match of the season which ends tomorrow.