Benham stars as Hampshire go up

Sun, Sep 24  Hampshire v Glamorgan

Chris Benham smashed an inspired, chanceless 158 as Hampshire clinched promotion to Division 1 of the NatWest Pro40 League by overwhelming Glamorgan in Sunday's play-off at The Rose Bowl.

Hampshire raced to a 151-run victory. They totalled 265-9 after being put in to bat, then bowled out Glamorgan for 114 with 14.4 overs to spare.

Benham marked English cricket's first-ever play-off by recording the highest score in the competition this season.

He shared a superb opening stand of 106 in 16 overs with the recalled Michael Brown (29) and scored his runs off 130 balls. Ninety of his runs came in boundaries, 21 fours including three from reverse sweeps, and a pull for six in the second over of the match. Dimi Mascarenhas, with a quickfire 30, was second highest scorer.

Hampshire, having reached 258-5 in the penultimate over, then lost four wickets off the last eight balls as they chased runs. Benham's dismissal was followed by Glamorgan paceman Andrew Davies snapping up three successive wickets.

Hampshire's James Bruce, who was awarded his county cap in the break between innings, promptly celebrated by having Richard Grant caught at slip by Shane Warne off the second delivery of the innings.

Bruce went on to take three of the first four wickets, including top scorer David Harrison for 28, and finish with figures of 3-48.

Sean Ervine, who shared the new ball, dismissed key batsmen David Hemp and Michael Powell and finished up with an outstanding analysis of 4-24 off eight overs.

Glamorgan, having been 50-5, struggled to 89-9 before Davies (22 not out) figured in a last-wicket stand of 25.

HAMPSHIRE 265-9 (40 overs): Benham 158, Mascarenhas 30, Brown 29, Crawley 21, Davies 3-53, Croft 2-56, Franklin 2-60.

GLAMORGAN 114 (25.2 overs): D.Harrison 28, Davies 22 not out, Ervine 4-24, Bruce 3-48, Warne 2-16. HAMPSHIRE win by 151 runs.

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