The start of Hampshire's run chase was delayed by persistant drizzle and play did not start until midday.

Hampshire made a solid start in their pursuit of 216 off a maximum of 76 overs against Middlesex. After 10 overs, they had reached 31-0 with no real alarms, with both Jimmy Adams and Michael Carberry finding their timing with sweet leg-side boundaries.

The Hawks moved serenely on to 41-0 on the completion of the first hour’s play. This was mainly down to some positive and purposeful running between the wickets from Adams and Carberry.

Middlesex made the breakthrough in the 16th over when Gareth Berg trapped Adams (who offered no stroke) LBW for 25, to leave the hosts 46-1. Carberry though continued on his merry way and emphatically pulled Tim Murtagh in front of square for four. 

John Crawley could only make a duck as he edged a good delivery from Berg through to wicket keeper Ben Scott.

Michael Lumb joined Carberry at the crease and looked in fine form, hitting extra cover boundaries off Dawid Malan and Neil Dexter. Lumb and Carberry saw Hampshire through to lunch in a good position on 92-2.

Chris Silverwood opened up for the visitors after lunch and immediately made a big appeal for caught behind against Carberry which was given not out. Carberry brought up his 50 in the 35th over as the Hawks moved on to 117-2.  

Both batsmen were scoring freely and Lumb reached his half century with another handsome cover drive off young left-arm spinner Ravi Patel. Hampshire sitting pretty at 156-2, mid-way through the afternoon session, Carberry and Lumb having put on a century stand.

Middlesex then managed to slow the run-rate down by cutting off the boundaries, but the two classy left handers for Hampshire were content to take singles. After 55 overs they had reached 183-2 and were in sight of a comfortable victory.

Lumb raised the Hampshire 200 with a stunning six over mid-wicket off Dexter. Carberry then fell just short of his hundred when he was caught at mid-off by Silverwood off the bowling of Dexter for 93. It was a tame end to a classy knock and the Hawks now needed just nine more for victory.

It was Lumb who hit the winning run, finishing 81 not out and both he and Hampshire look in good shape for the forthcoming campaign.

After the tea interval the players came back out and used the remaining 13 overs for valuable match practice with Sean Ervine scoring 40 and Chris Benham 30.

Match report by Neil Evans.

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