Forshaw puts forward case with his four-wicket burst

Although rain prevented play on the final day of the tour, the three games that did yield results proved a very worthwhile early-season exercise for the home squad, overseen by new director of cricket Jeremy Frith.

The hosts felt they could have won the opening T20 last Thursday, which ended in an 11-run defeat, and they registered a fine three-wicket win in the first 50-over contest the following day before Hampshire got their revenge on Saturday by winning the second 50-over clash by five wickets.

Among the impressive individual performances were four-wicket hauls for Dane Mullen in that Friday victory and Island U19 seamer Charlie Forshaw the next afternoon, when he reduced the visitors from 88 for 1 to 93 for 5.

‘Obviously try and take as many positives as possible,’ said skipper Butler.

‘I think getting over the line on Friday was a big one for us – chasing down a low score always ends up being tricky, so getting over the line was a really big positive for us.

‘Charlie Forshaw with the ball was a massive positive, he bowled really nicely.

‘On the first day I think they were 80 for 2 off the first 10 and we clawed them back and kept them to 120.

‘So plenty of positives, we probably should have won that first game as well, but you probably can’t be too harsh considering it’s April and our first run out on grass.’

Butler was pleased that the home squad, who used the best part of a couple of dozen players over the three games, were competitive against ‘a very good side’ comprising cricketers with aspirations of becoming professionals.

‘They’ve got a few standout players, a couple played in the U19 Ashes I believe, one of whom is Dom Kelly, who sounds like a very good prospect.

‘So to play against that sort of talent and those guys is great for us. We don’t get much exposure over here, so the more games we can play against teams like that, the better.’

He added that he enjoyed having lots of options at his disposal as a captain.

‘It’s good for the players to get an opportunity,’ Butler said.

‘In the past couple of years where we’ve just played inter-insulars and tournaments, it’s hard to give lads an opportunity to prove themselves.

‘I think games like this are great for the fringe players to come in and really try and put their case forward, which again Charlie Forshaw this weekend has taken his chance with both hands, which is great to see.’