McKenzie knock paves way for Hampshire

Hampshire went to the top of Clydesdale Bank 40 Group B after Neil McKenzie produced a brilliant innings in their 107-run win over the Welsh Dragons in Cardiff.

McKenzie's 88 from 89 balls helped Hampshire, who lost the toss, towards 226 all out, and in reply Chris Wood recorded career-best figures of five wickets for 22 runs and Danny Briggs took 4 for 32 as Glamorgan were completely outclassed. The hosts were dismissed with 7.1 overs remaining, ending their realistic hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

Hampshire had reached 27 for 0 in four overs but were pegged back by Glamorgan with the wickets of Jimmy Adams and Simon Katich. James Vince looked certain to go to his 50 but was run out by wicketkeeper Mark Wallace two runs short of the target, a dismissal which was initially given as stumped. It left the visitors 78 for 3 in the 14th over.

The exit of Vince and some good bowling especially from Jim Allenby slowed the run rate as Hampshire reached the halfway stage at 102 for 3. That became 108 for 4 in the next over when Sean Ervine was brilliantly stumped by Wallace, and 109 for five when Allenby trapped Liam Dawson leg before wicket.

Allenby, who finished with 1 for 21, had an assist when Michael Bates was run out in a mix-up with McKenzie attempting a third run. South African McKenzie reached his half-century from 59 balls, out of 132 for 6 and, although Hamza Riazuddin holed out to mid-on, Chris Wood helped McKenzie to take 15 off an over from John Glover.

Wood was well caught by Marcus North one-handed at midwicket but Danny Briggs struck Graham Wagg for two sixes in between losing McKenzie, who holed out off the expensive Simon Jones seven balls from the end of the innings.

The Dragons were not helped by being penalised six runs for not bowling their overs in the time allotted and they were soon on the back foot in their reply, reduced to 21 for 3 in six overs by Wood. Wallace was caught mistiming a pull, Chris Cooke was well caught at short midwicket and Gareth Rees was bowled.

Allenby and North did their best to get the hosts back on course but David Griffiths had North caught behind attempting to drive. It did not get better for the home side as Allenby was well caught by Vince on the long-on boundary off Briggs, leaving them 58 for 5 in the 18th over.

Wagg and Stewart Walters took the batting Powerplay with Glamorgan needing 135 off the final 14 overs, before Briggs bowled Wagg, Ben Wright and Glover. And Wood returned to bowl Cosker and Jones with consecutive balls as Glamorgan subsided.