Hawks retrieve last eight hopes with Sussex win
By Connor Steel
HAMPSHIRE HAWKS retrieved their dream of reaching the Vitality Blast Quarter Finals as they travelled to local rivals Sussex Sharks on Saturday evening (July 5); completing an empathic sixty-two run ‘derby’ victory following their highly improved performance that was arguably decided in both powerplays at the cloudy 1st Central County Ground in Hove.
The Hawks were forced to bat first and started brilliantly with debutant Chris Lynn hitting multiple boundaries within the opening two overs; the Australian further hitting three maximums including one huge six over cover-point. He was aptly supported by captain James Vince, who added three strokes for fours as the batters scored 64-0 during this powerplay.
The duo moved onto 84-0 before Vince (34) was caught at deep mid-wicket by Harrison Ward whilst Chris Lynn rapidly passed his fifty and then departed to a stunning one-handed catch. Joe Weatherley became the third victim as he was bowled by Henry Crocombe for nine runs, before Toby Albert was caught in a stiff breeze to leave the Hawks on 125-4.
Benny Howell (25*) linked up with Hilton Cartwright (24) settled this ‘mid-order wobble’ as they added thirty runs before the latter departed LBW in the sixteenth over. James Fuller was later run out for just 15 runs, before Nathan McAndrew successively took Liam Dawson (7) and Chris Wood (0) in the last six balls as Hampshire ended their innings on 196-8.
Sussex began their response with a boundary but their hopes were weakened by a poor powerplay as Ward (5) edged to slip off Wood’s first over, whilst Scott Currie bowled Tom Clark’s middle stump after a brief respite. A brilliant piece of fielding then followed as Cartwright ran out David Hughes with a fine throw from twenty yards out to make scores 32-3.
James Coles and John Simpson added a short resistance of batting before another cluster of wickets, which began as Howell dismissed the former for 10 runs to leave Sussex on 57-4. This became 69-6 at their half-way point when Fynn Hudson-Prentice was caught by Howell and Dawson took the wicket of Simpson via the hands of Vince near third man.
McAndrew and Danny Lamb scored thirty-seven runs for their seventh wicket to move the Sharks beyond one hundred runs, where Sonny Baker took Lamb’s scalp on 18 after a maximum. Although McAndrew moved on to an unbeaten 31 the batsman lost three last partners; Ollie Robinson, Tymal Mills, and Crocombe falling to hand Hampshire their victory.
This is Hampshire’s first success in five Vitality Blast encounters and now sit two points behind the top four quarter final positions with five games left to play in the South Group stage. Their next match will see them host Somerset tomorrow afternoon (July 6) from 3pm before they then visit Middlesex on Thursday evening at Merchant Taylor’s School Ground.
PICTURED BY ALAMY (2XDCMK2): The two teams contest in ‘previous encounter’ held at Southampton back in 2024.
