Hawks down Scorpions to go back to the top of Division II

Hampshire Hawks moved back to the top of the National League Division Two table following a comprehensive victory over the Derbyshire Scorpions at The Rose Bowl. The sixth successive win (one short of their all time record) takes them into poll position with just four matches remaining.

John Crawley won the toss and invited the Scorpions to bat on a warm but overcast afternoon, and was immediatly rewarded by a brilliant spell of seam and swing bowling from Dimitri Mascarenhas, he bowled his nine overs through and took two wickets for the paltry sum of 11 runs.

Chris Tremlett and Alan Mullally took up the mantle and destroyed the Scorpions batting line up. Only skipper Dominic Cork managed the bowlers with some ease as he was last man out one short of a deserved half-century.

It was not easy for the Hawks either when they started their reply, but James Hamblin and Simon Katich played carefully to reach 43 before the Aussie edged to the wicket-keeper. Hamblin and Kenway eached posted scores before falling, and when John Francis was bowled leg stump off spinner Lian Wharton, the home side still had much to do.

Crawley and Mascarenhas then steadied the ship, and together they took the Hawks to vistory with some 9 overs plus to go.