Hampshire Under 17s coast into Championship semi finals

Teenager Andover off-spinner Matt Hooper has bowled Hampshire into the semi-finals of the ECB Under-17 County Championship.

He took 5-59 as Hampshire completed an emphatic 150-run victory over Wales to set up a two-day semi-final tie against Middlesex at the Shenley Cricket Centre in Hertfordshire, starting on Thursday.

Middlesex ran out 162-run winners after scoring 296 in their quarter-final against Kent, who were dismissed for 134.

Hampshire put themselves in a virtually unassailable position against Wales by posting a massive 392-8 by the end of the first day.

They progressed to 82-2 (Paul Cass 28) before Kevin Latouf (90) and Chris Wright (79) established near total supremacy with a third-wicket stand of 164.

Wales sent down 50 wides - they conceded 79 extras in all - helping Michael Barnes (44) and Mark Mitchell (32 not out) take Hampshire on to 392-8 off 100 overs.

Wales progressed to 151-3 (Richard Grant 46) before Hooper got to work - the off-spinner's five-wicket spell sending the Welshmen tumbling to 242 all out.

Andover team-mate James Manning bowled himself into the squad for Thursday's semi-final with a telling new-ball spell which set Hampshire Under-16s up for a pleasing 75-run first innings victory over neighbours Sussex at East Grinstead.

Manning (3-15) had Sussex rocking at 23-4, and subsequently 79-6, after Hampshire had posted a useful 239 all out.

Kevin Latouf (54), who later took 2-14, Nick Priddle (38), Graham Noble (31) and Peter Hammond (26) top scored for Hampshire, who eventually pegged Sussex to 164-8.

Hampshire made 71-4 in their second innings, with Noble (24) and Manning (21) making a mark.

It was Hampshire's first win in the Six Counties Under-16 Championship.