HAMPSHIRE batter Aneurin Donald has been rewarded for his form last season, following his comeback from injury, by signing a new contract with the club until the end of 2024.

Having come through the ranks at Glamorgan, Donald arrived at The Ageas Bowl initially on loan in 2018, before joining permanently ahead of the 2019 season.

Despite suffering from long-term injury, which caused him to miss the entirety of both the 2020 and 2021 seasons, the 26-year-old has since made 50 appearances for Hampshire across all three formats, scoring over 1,500 runs.

Donald, after signing his new deal, said: “I’m extremely excited, especially off the back of such a successful year in 2022.

“After a couple of dark years with my injury, it’s been amazing to get back on the pitch, with the help and support of the club, and I hope I can repay the faith they have shown in me.

“It has definitely become like my second home down at The Ageas Bowl, so I’m looking forward to another two years.”

In 2019 – his first full season at the club – he helped Hampshire to a third-place County Championship finish and a runners-up spot in the One Day Cup. During the four-day campaign, Donald made his best score in a Hampshire shirt, with a brutal knock of 173 runs from 144 balls.

The Welshman then suffered an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament and had to undergo surgery which kept him out for the following two seasons.

Last year’s campaign marked the long-awaited return for Donald, returning to action with the Second XI initially, before making his return to First XI cricket with appearances in all three formats.

In the County Championship, he scored 398 runs at an average of 28.43, with a best of 94 in the dramatic win over Northamptonshire. While he was also a mainstay in the One Day Cup side scoring 227 runs, including an explosive 76 from 36 balls in the final group game against Yorkshire Vikings.

Giles White, Hampshire's director of cricket, added: “Aneurin has an imposing presence at the crease and has the rare ability to shift the course of a game in a short space of time.

“He is a selfless team player and has become an extremely popular and important player at the club. We are delighted to have secured his services for the next couple of years.”