Shah continues career with Hampshire

Owais Shah's county career will continue into 2015 after he signed another contract with Hampshire to play in the NatWest T20 Blast. Shah retired from first-class cricket at the end of the 2013 season but has continued to play in the shortest-format and appeared for Hampshire last season.

Shah, 36, played six matches for Hampshire last season and scored 156 runs, including an unbeaten 50 against his former club Essex. He was less successful at the Carribean Premier League, making only 77 runs in six innings for the Jamaica Tallawahs.

"Owais made a big impact with us last year, he scored his runs and was also popular around the club," Hampshire director of cricket, Giles White said. "He is available for the entire tournament which allows us the opportunity to form a settled side that finds its pattern of play; experience tells us that this is important in this format of the game.

Shah added: "I really enjoyed my time at Hampshire last season, I got on well with the players and coaches so I'm glad to be a part of the club again this year, and for a longer period as well. It was frustrating to go out in the semi-finals last season but the talent is there to go one further this year and I believe we can do it."

Hampshire were well beaten by Lancashire in the semi-final of last seasons T20 Blast but it was their fifth Finals Day in a row. Their 2015 campaign begins at home to Essex on May 15.