Hampshire go down to Sussex

Hampshire will need to win both their remaining Benson & Hedges Zonal matches, if they are to retain any interest in the competition, after going down by 6 wickets at Sussex on Friday.

Will Kendall one of Wednesday's bowling hero's at The Oval, was left out suffering from a shoulder injury, and Dimitri Mascarenhas was included.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat, Hampshire got off to a real flyer, Robin Martin-Jenkins conceding 22 off the first over. James Hamblin is earning a real reputation as a pinch-hitter, as he struck 33 in just 20 balls, and with the aid of Neil Johnson posted 63 for the first wicket in just six overs. With both Hamblin and Johnson out in successive balls however, the innings slowed with the middle order batsmen all getting starts, only to falter.

Billy Taylor who plays much of his club cricket in the Hampshire area tightened the screws, bowling a tight spell, and with Mark Davis also mean only Robin Smith looked capable of taking charge, but he too fell when in command.

Sussex played a different tactic at the start of their innings, preferring to take things steady and build an innings. Despite losing early wickets to an admirable bowling spell from Mascarenhas, team captain Chris Adams and Tony Cottey shared a 95 run partnership. Cottey fell on 61, and requiring over 6 runs an over Martin-Jenkins joined his captain as they raced to victory with an over to spare. Adams whose 80* included two big sixes when the innings was under pressure deservedly won the Benson & Hedges Gold Award.