Warne spins Hampshire to victory
Shane Warne
Sun, Aug 06 Hampshire v Kent
Leg-spinner Shane Warne played a starring role for Hampshire in their exciting 18-run victory over Kent in Sunday's Pro40 League match at Canterbury.
Hampshire's charismatic skipper snapped up three of the last four wickets in just five balls to finish with figures of 4-14. All-rounder Sean Ervine took 3-27.
Kent collapsed from 174-6 to 182 all out in reply to Hampshire's 200-8.
Opener Nic Pothas top-scored with 55 for Hampshire, who chose to bat first, and shared a second-wicket stand of 92 with Ervine (44). Then, after the score slipped to 150-6, Dimi Mascarenhas was joined by Greg Lamb (16) in a useful partnership of 40. Mascarenhas finished with an unbeaten 47, having hit the last ball of the innings for six over long-off.
Martin van Jaarsveld then scored 42 for Kent who reached 75-2 in the 14th over before Warne, with his second delivery, bowled the big-hitting Tyrone Henderson for 19. Kent were deep in trouble at 101-6 before Matthew Walker and Geraint Jones rallied them by putting on 73
With another 27 runs needed off 4.2 overs and Hampshire desperate for the breakthrough, Warne struck with two successive deliveries in the first over of his second spell. Walker, his team's leading scorer with 44, swept the ball to deep mid-wicket where Shaun Udal held a crucial low catch and James Tredwell promptly followed.
Ervine then picked up his third wicket and it was all over in Warne's next over when last man Min Patel was trapped lbw, leaving Jones stranded on 28 not out.
"It was a pretty good effort by the guys to come back and win after Kent had got within striking distance with four wickets left," said a jubilant Shane Warne. "The pitch was poor and it was a good toss for us to win."
HAMPSHIRE 200-8 (40 overs): Pothas 55, Mascarenhasw 47 not out, Ervine 44, Dexter 2-26, Tredwell 2-36, Khan 2-41. KENT 182 (37.3 overs): Walker 44, Van Jaarsveld 42, Warne 4-14, Ervine 3-27).
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