STAND-IN skipper Chris Wood led Hampshire Hawks to a crucial T20 victory over Somerset on Friday and said “anything can happen” as they approach the season’s climax.

Wood, who was standing in for absent captain James Vince, saw his Hampshire side hit 175-6 off of the 20-over allotment, before his bowling line-up made light work of a Somerset order who were all out for 100.

The win was vital to give Hampshire a chance of qualifying for the T20 Blast quarter-finals, with just three games to play and now finding themselves five points behind fourth-placed Somerset in seventh.

The Ageas Bowl side face Essex Eagles and rivals Sussex Sharks in a double-header on Friday July 15, before finishing their Blast campaign on Sunday against Glamorgan.

Wood said after the match: “The effort the lads put in tonight was incredible. We thought about 150 was par, so it was some unbelievable batting to get us to 170.

"We tried to bowl well in the powerplay which we did, it was a sensational effort from everybody.

"There are still three games to go and we are on a bit of a roll now. We are at home for our next three games and you never know what can happen.”

The home side opened the batting at The Ageas Bowl but relied on their middle order to hit runs, with Joe Weatherley making 50 and Lewis McManus 60 not out.

No Somerset player eclipsed 25, hit by Roelof van der Merwe, as Scott Currie took four wickets for just eight runs from three overs, with Brad Wheal and D’Arcy Short taking two wickets a piece.

Skipper Wood bowled two overs for an economy of four, taking one wicket.

The upcoming double-header at The Ageas Bowl is the fastest selling T20 fixture on record at the ground, and will take on an even greater importance now with victories being crucial for the rebranded Hawks' Blast ambitions.