Neighbours Sussex help out Hampshire Hawks

Whilst Hampshire were resting after a day in the field against Worcestershire, a significant event was happening at neighbours Sussex, who by defeating Middlesex Gladiators in the day/night match at Hove, gave the Hawks a significant boost to their promotion hopes.

Middlesex posted a respectable 247-6 in their 45 overs, but after a bad start losing their first two wickets for 21, the Sharks Murray Goodwin and Chris Adams took them past the winning post with 10 balls to spare and in the course defeated the all time 3rd wicket partnership in the Sunday/NL. Both batsmen gaining centuries.

The significance in the Division II Table is that Lancashire are assured of promotion, Northamptonshire are all but there with a vastly superior run rate.

Hampshire Hawks need just one victory from their remaining three matches against Lancashire, Middlesex and Derbyshire to ensure First Division National League at the Rose Bowl in 2004.