Orr Returns as Hampshire Beat Surrey in Thriller - But Has He Forced His Way Into Division One Plans?

When the team for last night's T20 South Group clash was announced there was a buzz of excitement that stretched from the Northern Line all the way down the M3.

Ali Orr has had to bide his time this season.

Seemingly at the bottom of the pile when it came to Hampshire's batting reserves he has gone about his business in understated style in the Second XI - doing the only thing he could realistically do, short of banging on Giles White's door and demanding a loan move.

He has scored runs.

And plenty of them.

Last week Russell Domingo, the Hampshire coach, told The Hawk that Orr was still very much part of his plans.

He has been as good as his word.

Orr played his first game for the senior team this season last night, and didn't take long to remind Hampshire supporters what they had been missing - smashing Tom Curran over mid-on for six shortly after walking out to bat alongside Toby Albert.

He was handed a chance by James Vince's absence, the Hampshire skipper absent with a back issue.

And although he was out for 22, he has already gone some way to making his point.

It was his first white ball outing since scoring 110 in the final of the Metro Bank One Day Cup final against Worcestershire at Trent Bridge back in September.

Now the Hawk understands that his first Blast appearance of the season could well be followed by an opportunity in the County Championship when Hampshire resume their Division One campaign against Surrey at the same venue tomorrow.

Ironically, Surrey were the last opponents to face him in first class cricket too.

Back in September, Orr played against the Brown Caps in the final match of the season at the Utilita Bowl, scoring 32 and 48 in a defeat that initially looked to have consigned Hampshire to Division Two cricket this season.

Now it looks as though he'll get the chance to help Domingo's side move away from that relegation trapdoor this time around.