JAMES Fuller insisted Hampshire Hawks were only “five-10 per cent” when they lost their first four T20 Blast matches, after recording a third successive win.

The Ageas Bowl side defeated Essex Eagles by 32 runs to firmly put their limited-over campaign back on track, building on wins over Middlesex and Sussex Sharks in the last week.

All-rounder Fuller himself contributed with four wickets for 30 with the ball in hand, while captain James Vince top scored with 44 for the home side.

Hampshire opened the batting and looked to be setting a low target going into the closing stages, but 107 for two in 14 overs ended up being 155 for six in 20.

And it is finding those extra gears that Fuller says was missing but not out of reach as they opened the campaign.

Speaking after the match, he said: “In the first four games we weren’t far off maybe just 5-10 percent but now we are starting to compete and it is awesome.

“The coach called on us to up the levels to where we were last year and that’s what’s happened,” he added.

“The discussions in the dugout was that 160 would be a good score, but we were happy with our score. “It feels really good to be contributing with both bat and ball. To come away with some wickets tonight really adds to my belief that is starting to grow.

“I think all the boys bowled well. Mason (Crane) and (Liam) Daws(on) with the wet ball was really well and then (Chris) Wood and (Brad) Wheal in the death overs was really awesome.”

Hampshire are back in T20 action tonight when they travel to Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens, to face Glamorgan.

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