Hampshire sign off in the Benson & Hedges with a victory

Hampshire recorded an exiting 3 run victory over Middlesex at The Rose Bowl, but it was too late to qualify for the Quarter Final stages of the Benson & Hedges Cup.

Crawley recieves Gold Award Photo Vic Isaacs

The inability of the middle order has been Hampshire's downfall in this year's competition, but this was put right with two of their number, John Crawley and Giles White who saved the innings after a bad start. With three wickets down for 41, these two batted with extreme care, before opening their shoulders. White finally fell at the end of a 127 run partnership for a well executed 60, then with help from wicket-keeper Nic Pothas, Crawley completed his first Limited-Overs century for his new club winning him the Gold Award, to take the home side to a comfortable 237 run total.

Angus Fraser playing his last match for Middlesex before becoming a journalist was the tidiest of the bowlers taking 2/34 in his 10 overs.

Middlesex began as Hampshire had, losing 2 wickets cheaply, but as with the home sides innings they rallied with Owais Shah and Ed Joyce bring the game round. Many of the batsmen contributed, but some indifferent shots when going strong was their downfall. Middlesex who had more to gain from a victory than their hosts came agonisingly close to victory against a Hampshire attack so weakened that they had to rely of occasional bowlers Prittipaul and Will Kendall captaining the side in Robin Smith's absence with a shoulder problem.

Dimitri Mascarenhas was the pick of their bowlers, with a tidy spell from Mullally, but with Middlesex requiring 11 to win from the last over, Kendall held his head to restrict them to 7.

So, the curtain comes down on Hampshire's 31 year history in the Benson & Hedges Cup, winning 66 of the 142 matches played over the years, and winning the competition in 1988 and 1992.