Nail biting finish secures division one

At four minutes past three, Simon Lacey the Derbyshire batsman drove a ball back to bowler Peter Hartley, to give Hampshire a nail biting two run victory over the home side and secure first division status in County Championship 2000, when the new format starts. In one of the most exciting finishes ever, Hampshire seemed home when Derbyshire's seventh wicket fell at 163, however DeFreitas and Lacey put together 104 for the eighth wicket.

With tension mounting Dimitri Mascarenhas enticed DeFreitas into the hands of the grateful Robin Smith (267 for 8).

The innings slowed almost to a full stop as Lacey and Aldred crept on for a further 12 runs, when at 279 and 6 runs from victory, veteran Peter Hartley, summonsed up some adrenalin to trap Aldred lbw. (279 for 9).

Two leg byes past the despairing wicket-keeper, another single (a tie no good for Hampshire) then suddenly Lacey who had batted stubbornly, got a ball that stopped on him to give Hartley a return catch (282 ALL OUT).

Peter Hartley hardly had time to reflect on the achievement, before he was mobbed by the excited players and the few Hampshire supporters who were there to witness this incredible finish to a season.