Dawson the difference in Hants win

Hampshire 223 (Dawson 97, Mascarenhas 35, Gazi 2-31) beat Bangladesh A 215-9 (Sunny 45*, Marshall 39, Dawson 3-11) by eight runs
Scorecard

Liam Dawson's all-round performance made the difference between Hampshire and Bangladesh A who lost by eight runs at the Ageas Bowl. His 97 was pivotal in the 223 runs made by the home side before his left-arm spin put the screws on. The match also saw two 50-plus last wicket stands, though the second one didn't quite finish the job for Bangladesh.

The visitors' struggled with the bat in their first match on tour, until Robiul Islam and Elias Sunny put on an unbroken 58-run tenth wicket stand which added a bit of drama towards the end.

The last 35 balls saw the No. 11 Robiul smack five sixes as he made an unbeaten 19-ball 34. Sunny ended up as top-scorer for Bangladesh A with 45 not out, with seven fours and a six at the end. The pair pushed the game into the last over from which they needed 22 runs, but seamer Josh Davey gave away just three runs off the first four balls, swinging the game back in Hampshire's favour and keeping it that way. Davey is a Middlesex player who was loaned to Hampshire for this game.

Dawson's 3 for 11 from seven overs stung the Bangladesh A batsmen. Having opened the bowling, he accounted for opener Imrul Kayes' wicket in the seventh over before he took the wicket of captain Jahurul Islam in his next over.

Anamul Haque's 64-minute vigil ended when he was stumped by Adam Rouse off the medium-pace of Josh Davey in the 20th over, having made just 18 off 50 balls. Mominul Haque was more enterprising than the top three in his 28, but he fell to Hamza Riazuddin immediately after hitting the pace bowler for two consecutive fours.

The chase fell apart when Naeem Islam and Farhad Reza were dismissed before the visitors reached the 100-run mark. Marshall Ayub tried to resurrect the innings through his 39 off 47 balls, and the 42-run eighth wicket stand with Elias Sunny. But Dawson's return to the bowling attack brought success as he removed Marshall in the 41st over.

Earlier, Dawson walked in at 86 for 4 in the 25th over and slowly recovered the Hampshire innings. He added 37 for the fifth wicket with Davey, but it was his 54-run last wicket partnership with another debutant Brad Taylor that gave them a 200-plus score.

Taylor only faced four deliveries in his 30-minutes at the crease, as Dawson took charge. He blasted three fours and a six off Farhad in a 19-run over before hitting two more fours and a six in the next three overs. He missed a certain century after falling to Mominul's left-arm spin off the first ball of the 50th over, but the 87-ball innings put Bangladesh A on the backfoot towards the end. Sohag Gazi, Rubel Hossain and Farhad took two wickets each while Robiul Islam, Sunny and Mominul chipped in with one each.

Bangladesh A's next match is against Yorkshire in Leeds on August 9.