Sussex Sharks v Hampshire Hawks Twenty20 Cup 13th June
Hampshire Hawks beat Sussex Sharks by six wickets
BBC Radio Solent's Kris Temple reports from Hove
Hampshire Hawks registered their first win of this season's Twenty20 Cup, with a thrilling last-ball victory over local rivals Sussex Sharks at Hove.
The Hawks handed debuts in the competition to Academy pair Hamza Riazuddin and Liam Dawson, but the home side set an imposing tone, with veteran Murray Goodwin's stylish 69 getting them off to a flying start. When he fell to Nantie Hayward though, Sussex's West Indian import Dwayne Smith took over, blitzing a half-century from just 22 balls, and clearing the rope six times on his way to an unbeaten 72. That led the Sharks to a daunting total of 204 for 6 from their 20 overs.
Hayward and Greg Lamb took two wickets each, while Riazuddin showed great composure on the big-stage, conceding just 24 from his 4-over spell.
Hampshire's reply needed to start well, and it did. Michael Lumb hit five boundaries in Corey Collymore's first over, as the Hawks raced to 64 from the first six overs. Lumb fell for 36, but at the half-way stage, the innings was ahead of the rate at 115 for 2. Michael Carberry then matched Dwayne Smith's earlier efforts, taking just 22 balls to reach fifty, but when he and Chris Benham fell in quick succession, Sussex were given renewed hope.
That brought Sean Ervine to the crease with a runner, after he suffered a hamstring strain during the Sussex innings. 42 were needed from the last three overs, and when the first two went for 17 and 19 respectively, the Hawks required eight from James Kirtley's final over.
It fell to skipper Nic Pothas to grab a single from the final ball for victory, and when Kirtley's underarm throw missed the stumps, Hampshire scrambled across the line, to win by six wickets. Ervine took the man of the match award, ending unbeaten on 38.
Ervine told BBC RADIO SOLENT: "It got very tight towards the end, but if you've got wickets in hand, it's always possible. I was calm, i knew the boys could do the job, but we had to play well."
The Hawks next match is against last year's Twenty20 Cup winners the Kent Spitfires on Saturday 14th June.
Tickets are £20 per adult and £5 per junior - pay on the day. The match starts at 12:30pm and the gates at 10:30am
BBC Radio Solent's sports team will be providing ball by ball commentary of all the action.
Join BBC Radio Solent's Kevan James and Kris Temple from 12 noon on Saturday to listen live by following the BBC Radio Solent link from our homepage or following this link. BBC Radio Solent
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