Exciting finish as Hampshire defeat Loughborough in last over

This game may not have been attributed first-class status, but it had many of the qualities of an old-fashioned three-day game. Three declarations, plenty of runs and a successful run chase that concluded in the final over of the `last 20' saw Hampshire defeat Loughborough UCCE at the Rose Bowl by three wickets.

Resuming at 81-4, it looked unlikely that Loughborough would set Hampshire over 300 to win with little batting left and one of their key men, John Francis, injured. However, Chris Nash had other ideas.

He struck 70 from 78 balls, and with support from Richard Wilkinson (36) pushed the lead to 308 when skipper Mark Powell declared at lunch. This was not before James Tomlinson had furthered his first team hopes with 4-66.

Losing Derek Kenway early, Jason Laney and Giles White batted tidily, adding 139 for the second wicket before the former fell two short of a well-deserved century (144 balls, 13 fours, 1 six). White and Alex Morris fell in quick succession to make Hampshire's task unlikely.

However, a swashbuckling 39-ball 49 from James Hamblin, which included a huge six over the tents, he and skipper Will Kendall reduced the run-rate required and the target to a manageable level.

Kendall, running 12 sets of twos as well as striking five fours was dismissed for 62 (69 balls), but not before he pulled up with a slight recurrence of the side strain which hampered his involvement in the game earlier, attempting a full off David Wigley.

Nic Pothas, though, eased the home side home with four balls remaining; Ian Hilsum hitting the winning single.

This may not have been first-class by status, but the game itself certainly was in entertainment and good cricket.