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Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Six-hitting from Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler carried England to victory at the death•BCCI

They don’t come as smooth as Captain Morgan. As MS Dhoni and his senior associates debated the field for the final delivery of the chase, off which England needed three to win, Eoin Morgan was calm, had a word with his partner and then waited. Jos Buttler had tried to be cheeky and didn’t succeed the previous ball, but Morgan put an end to the game in the only way an expectant crowd sensing victory could have been silenced in disbelief – a deathly blow over the sightscreen when there seemed to be enough room in the field to squeeze a couple and take the game to a Super Over.With a Test series won and a T20 series drawn, England rounded off their first leg of this tour of India on a happy note. The victory was also their highest successful chase in T20 internationals.Ashok Dinda, who bowled that last over, had tried hard to get his yorkers on target, with nine needed. The first five deliveries yielded just six runs, thanks to some good outfielding, even though Dinda didn’t quite find his mark each time. When Buttler first shaped up for a scoop off the penultimate ball before trying to guide it past Dhoni’s right, only to miss it and steal a bye, it seemed his more enterprising instincts may have backfired. But it brought Morgan on strike, and when Dinda overpitched, he launched him straight over his head, dispatching the ball above the press box, 92 metres into the stands.

Smart stats

• The target of 181 is the highest ever chased by England in Twenty20 internationals surpassing the 173 they chased against West Indies earlier this year. It is also the highest target chased in Twenty20 matches against India.

• It is the eighth time overall (second time for England) that a team has completed a chase off the last ball of the innings. The previous time for England was against Australia in Adelaide in 2011.

• Morgan’s 49 is his fifth-highest score in Twenty20 internationals and equals his highest against India. The strike rate of 188.46 is his third-highest for a 30-plus score in Twenty20 internationals.

• Yuvraj Singh’s 3 for 17 is his best bowling performance for India in Twenty20 matches. It is also the second-best performance for India against England after Harbhajan Singh’s 4 for 12 in Colombo earlier this year.

• Yuvraj’s economy rate in the series (4.50) is the second-best for India in a bilateral Twenty20 series of two or more matches (min eight overs bowled). The best is Harbhajan Singh’s 4.25 against New Zealand in 2008-09.

• Only Sunil Narine has picked up more wickets (7) than Yuvraj (6) in a Twenty20 bilateral series of two matches.

• While Yuvraj conceded just 17, the four other bowlers went for 164 runs in 16 overs. The economy rate of the pace bowlers (10.75) is the third-highest for India in an innings (min eight overs bowled).

• The 80-run stand between Alex Hales and Michael Lumb is the third-highest opening stand for England in Twenty20 matches and their highest against India.

Butler’s contribution, too, was significant. He joined Morgan with England needing 29 off 13, and the partnership kicked off with Morgan immediately pulling Dinda for six over deep midwicket. Up against the inexperienced Parvinder Awana in the penultimate over, Buttler drove a low full toss through extra cover before hammering the bowler for a flat, straight six off the final ball to bring it down to nine off six. And Morgan completed the job.Yuvraj Singh produced another excellent spell, picking up three wickets and conceding just 17 from his four overs, helping India recover from an opening partnership that threatened to take the game away from them. Michael Lumb produced his best performance in England colours, timing the ball superbly and showing plenty of intent, combining power play with some adept footwork that fetched him a lovely, straight six off R Ashwin. Lumb helped score 62 off the Powerplay and added 80 in 50 balls with Alex Hales, who impressed again with another productive hand.Lumb’s stumping, Luke Wright’s lbw and Hales – who was dropped by Awana on 7 – holing out, all to Yuvraj, put the pressure back on England before Morgan and Buttler turned the tables. India had done the same in their innings towards the death, smashing 63 in the last five overs thanks to Suresh Raina and Dhoni stepping up, but England were outstanding in their groundfielding.They threw themselves around in the outfield, the fast bowlers included, cutting off boundaries, often restricting the hosts, despite their good running between wickets, to twos. Though Raina and Dhoni’s late assault threatened to undermine that, the runs saved by England, which kept India to a challenging but gettable 177, played an influential role in the outcome. India put down two chances – Piyush Chawla let off Samit Patel when was yet to score – and there was a fumble that cost four runs from the first ball of England’s chase. In a game decided on the last ball, each lapse or incidence of brilliance had a magnified impact.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo: Punjab captain Harbhajan Singh led his side’s comeback, taking four wickets for 60 runs•Fotocorp

Accurate bowling from both sides, combined with ordinary batting and an awkward fourth-day pitch ensured that the final day’s play of the Ranji Trophy semi-final between Saurashtra and Punjab will be interesting; both teams have a chance of qualifying for the final.Although Punjab conceded a huge 178-run lead in the first innings, they made a comeback with impressive spells from captain Harbhajan Singh and new-ball bowler Siddarth Kaul, in the post-lunch session, to restrict the home team to 170 in their second innings.Saurashtra left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat then took two key wickets, including that of the season’s highest run-getter Jiwanjot Singh, to give his team a slender advantage going into the final day at the Khandheri stadium. Saurashtra almost bagged a third wicket but Shitanshu Kotak at first slip failed to hold on to a catch offered by Mandeep Singh off left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja’s bowling in the last over.The dropped catch aside, Kotak had a good day, scoring a fifty that took Saurashtra closer to what could be their maiden Ranji final. With two decades of experience on the domestic circuit, the southpaw has earned a reputation based more on the time he has spent at the crease, rather than the runs he has scored. But once Sagar Jogiyani was dismissed, with Saurashtra leading by 228 runs, Kotak launched. He stepped out frequently to Harbhajan and legspinner Sarabjit Ladda in order to negate the turn and bounce. This gave confidence to rookie Rahul Dave, who also started rotating the strike freely.As a result, when Saurashtra went into lunch at 90 for 1, with a lead of 268, all they had to do was bat out the next session without much damage. Punjab, on the other hand, had to effect a batting collapse to bring themselves back into the game. And they did just that.Despite dropping a regulation catch in the slips of Kotak off Kaul’s bowling, it was Harbhajan who triggered Saurashtra’s collapse, albeit with a slice of luck: Dave was stuck on the pads by a flat ball from the offspinner and umpire Rob Bailey raised his finger, but replays suggested that the ball was sliding down the legside. Jaydev Shah was dismissed soon after, slashing a ball off Kaul’s bowling to Amitoze Singh in the slips.Harbhajan is a dangerous bowler whenever he picks up a wicket early on in his spell. Having succeeded in the third over of his third spell after going wicketless for his first 12 overs, he quickly took three wickets in nine balls. He first dismissed Kotak, who offered a simple return-catch. At the start of the 48th over, Aarpit Vasavada nicked a ball to the wicketkeeper. Five balls later, Kamlesh Makvana was caught by Mandeep at first slip. In his third spell, Harbhajan bowled 14 overs unchanged from one end, beginning in the second session and extending into the final session of play.Kaul, too, pitched in and for the second time in four overs, Punjab managed to claim two wickets in an over: in the 51st over, he dismissed Vishal Joshi (caught at second slip) and Jaydev Unadkat, who was bowled.Having taken seven wickets for just 29 runs, Punjab were right back in the game. However, with a total lead of 308 and two wickets in hand, Saurashtra just needed one of their tailenders to hang around with Sheldon Jackson. And Jadeja proved to be a trustworthy ally for Jackson, batting for 45 minutes as the duo put on 39 runs for the tenth wicket. Although Bipul Sharma dismissed Siddharth Trivedi in the next over, Saurashtra had, by then, already amassed a lead of 349.Punjab didn’t get off to the best of starts in their chase. Despite the pitch assisting spinners, Unadkat impressed with the new ball yet again. He first angled one away from Jiwanjot to force an edge to the slip cordon. After being hit for two boundaries by Taruwar Kohli on the on-side in his fifth over, Unadkat changed the angle and came around the wicket. Kohli went for an extravagant drive only to edge it to Kotak in the slips.Opener Ravi Inder Singh then curbed his instincts to see the day off along with Mandeep, who was fortunate to have been dropped in the last over. Still 304 runs adrift of their target, Punjab have their backs to the wall. Can they do the unthinkable and live up to the tag of the ‘team of the year’ of this domestic season? Or will they join the ranks of Uttar Pradesh, who topped Group B but were surprised by Services in the quarters?

Exactly a month ago, Misbah-ul-Haq addressed the South African media for the first time. There were a few rays of sunshine in his voice. He made eye contact with the home journalists, and appeared genuinely convinced that his side could achieve something special.Two Tests matches have passed since then. Pakistan have lost both, and the little sense of humour Misbah had, has gone with it. At his pre-match press conference, ahead of the Centurion Test, he spoke in ice blocks. His eyes were fixed on a point in the distance, and his tone defeated.The reason for the turnaround is obvious, but the seriousness of it is not. This is not his first series loss. He was in charge when they were beaten by Sri Lanka, although he did not play the match they were beaten in because he was suspended for a slow over-rate.But this is Pakistan’s second series loss in succession, and it is the most number of consecutive Test defeats that Misbah has led his side in. There is no shame in losing to the No.1 ranked Test team, and there is even less in going down to them in their own conditions, which are also widely acknowledged as the most difficult to bat in.That Misbah is so unhappy illustrates the disappointment that comes when expectations aren’t met. His team has another chance to live up to those expectations, and he was clear about what they need to do. “We need to improve our batting. We need some consistency,” Misbah said. “It’s not about one innings in Test cricket. You have to post big totals in every innings.”Pakistan’s biggest challenge is facing the new ball, and that may not ease on a seamer’s pitch in Centurion. With the quick turnaround between Tests, there has not been much time to work on that skill, and Misbah was resigned in his assessment of how they will front up to it this time. “Everybody is trying and working hard to cope with the new ball, especially in the first 10 overs. We can only hope they will get better.”Perhaps it’s something that can be shelved as a real concern because it is unlikely to trouble Pakistan until they tour South Africa again. Misbah noted that it is the only place his team have struggled this much to adapt. “These pitches have more pace and bounce whereas all over the world wickets are getting slower. Even in Australia nowadays. So it’s a matter of spending time and playing more cricket here. Lack of experience and lack of playing Test cricket is why we collapsed in the other matches. Once you play on a regular basis, you get better and better.”But the reverse applies as well. Pakistan’s bowling attack may not enjoy conditions elsewhere as much as they have in South Africa. With an attack that is as promising as it is potent, Graeme Smith believes Misbah has reason to be a little cheerful. “They are a much better team than what the results showed, especially because their bowling attack is really good,” Smith said. “With the seamers and Saeed Ajmal, it can be quite challenging.”For that reason, Smith is looking at the Centurion Test as a way for South Africa’s batsman to spend more time sizing up the Pakistan pack, before the return leg of the tour in October. Misbah is not even thinking that far. He only wants a positive result in this match so that he can take something out of the series, something that he can look back on with some satisfaction.”You have to get teams out twice, not get them out once, take an advantage and then let it slip. Everybody knows the importance of every game, and every team wants to win each game. It’s not about [winning] series all the the games.” Compartmentalising the Centurion Test is the best way for Pakistan to defrost the chill from Misbah’s voice.

Match facts

March 17, 2013, Johannesburg
Start time 1000 local (0800 GMT)Hashim Amla has teased with starts in both matches so far•AFP

Big Picture

If one-day series have to be this drawn out – this five-match one will take 15 days to complete – at least they should reach their mid-point with all to play for. Pakistan’s comeback in Centurion has ensured that is the case and set the contest up for an exciting second half.With just over 34 hours separating the end of the second match on Friday night and the start of the third one on Sunday morning, this is the only time in the series where momentum may matter because there is such little time to reflect. For Pakistan, that’s good news.They did almost everything right at SuperSport Park, although there are a few things they will want to improve on. After having South Africa 62 for 5, they probably conceded more than they would have liked to. They also made heavy weather of the small chase upfront and will want one of the top three batsmen to go on to post a big score.Those things involve fine-tuning but South Africa have to look at the broader problems. Again, they found themselves in a pressure situation and again, they could not emerge from it. Farhaan Behardien’s determination served as an indication that the middle order is firming up but now they need a collective effort.Their only fault in the field was a lack of control as AB de Villiers edged dangerously close to being behind the over-rate. Mini-conferences between deliveries and constant changes of fields indicated how hard he was trying to create something but that needs to be tempered with some urgency.

Form guide

(Most recent first)
South Africa: LWWLL
Pakistan: WLLWW

In the spotlight

Hashim Amla has teased with starts in both matches so far but a nasty habit of inside-edging is blighting his game. Usually known for his cool head, Amla has looked hasty in his approach. In his reign as the No.1 ranked ODI batsman in the world, Amla has struck that balance so far but with Graeme Smith struggling and an inexperienced middle order, he is not getting it quite right in this series yet.With Mohammed Irfan in doubt with a hamstring injury, it will fall to Umar Gul to lead the Pakistan attack once again. Gul has only had one impressive performance on tour, his explosive 5 for 6 in the Twenty20, but he has not taken a single wicket in the ODIs. Moreover, he has been expensive and although he succeeded in troubling Smith in the first match, he was ineffective in the second. If Pakistan hope for a repeat of their Centurion showing, Gul will have to up his game significantly.

Team news

Farhaan Behardien earned himself a few more matches with the only half-century of the innings in Centurion which will keep David Miller out further. Dale Steyn’s return means that if Rory Kleinveldt has not recovered from the rib niggle that kept him out of Friday’s match, the attack will also stay the same.South Africa: (probable) 1 Graeme Smith 2 Hashim Amla 3 Colin Ingram, 4 AB de Villiers (capt & wk), 5 Faf du Plessis, 6 Farhaan Behardien, 7 Ryan McLaren 8 Robin Peterson 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Kyle Abbott/Rory Kleinveldt, 11 Lonwabo TsotsobeAfter Kamran Akmal partnered Mohammad Hafeez with some success in Centurion, pressure will mount on the management to let him open. That would mean only a reshuffle in the batting order with Hafeez dropping to No.3. Pakistan did not miss the extra batsman on Friday and will stick to the same combination with three fast bowlers and Saeed Ajmal as long as Irfan is fit. If Irfan does not play, Wahab Riaz may come in.Pakistan: (probable) 1, 2 and 3 Nasir Jamshed/Kamran Akmal (wk)/Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Shahid Afridi, 8 Umar Gul, 9 Saeed Ajmal 10 Junaid Khan, 11 Mohammed Irfan/Wahab Riaz

Pitch and conditions

Six years ago, this was the ground that produced what it still advertised as the “Greatest ODI of all time,” the 438 game between South Africa and Australia. The Wanderers one-day surface promises runs and pace and more of the same can be expected. The weather forecast is clear during the day with a shower possible in the evening.Unrelated to the match, but of interest nonetheless is that the stadium will be turned pink in support of breast cancer awareness and the organisers are attempting to break the record for the most number of people wearing pink in one place on a day.

Stats and trivia

• Of the players in this series, Graeme Smith has the most runs at the Wanderers with 452 at an average of 41.09.
• Pakistan have never won a bilateral ODI series against South Africa.

Quotes

“We’ve had two one-sided games so far because one of the teams hasn’t turned up. We didn’t turn up today and Pakistan didn’t in Bloemfontein. If both teams pitch up at the Wanderers, hopefully it will be a very exciting game on Sunday. We will still be favourites because of home conditions on a bouncy and pacy track at the Wanderers.”
“With the fielding restrictions, you need to pick wickets. Chasing five or six runs an over is easy to get when batsmen are settled. Every batsmen needs to go and get some big knocks. We really need to show some responsibility and just go on.”

Umar Gul, the Pakistan fast bowler, has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to an injured right knee. He sustained the injury last month after the Centurion ODI against South Africa and has been sidelined since.He will fly to Melbourne for surgery in the first week of May. The injury also means he will miss the fixtures against Ireland and Scotland next month.”Gul complained of right knee pain during the recently concluded one-day series against South Africa,” a PCB spokesman confirmed. “He was rested for the last two one-dayers for imminent damage to his medial meniscus and bone of the right knee. A later MRI scan confirmed a full thickness tear of the posterior horn of medial meniscus with patchy bone bruising on his right knee.”In order to expedite his return to cricket and quick rehabilitation, PCB have contacted Dr Alexander David Young in Australia, who in his initial reports has confirmed damage to his right knee and has given a timeline of 8-12 weeks for his full recovery (after the surgery).”Gul, who missed the final Test against South Africa, played the first two ODIs but missed the rest of the series due to the knee injury. He also missed the ongoing President’s Cup domestic one-day tournament for Habib Hank Limited.

The BCCI technical committee, in its first meeting chaired by Anil Kumble, was in favour of scheduling Ranji Trophy knockout matches at neutral venues, and longer gaps between matches, although no decisions were taken in Mumbai.”Everybody was receptive [to the idea]. More than the neutral venues, what has been recommended is a suggestive list of venues,” said Kumble, who replaced Sourav Ganguly as the head of the technical committee last October. “In the coming season we don’t have much of international cricket in India, [so] it is important to identify the neutral venues.”In the captains and coaches conclave on March 5, the teams had been equivocal in demanding that Ranji league games to be spaced out. They felt a three-day gap between league games was too small to recover. Kumble said the technical committee was also thinking on similar lines.”We felt at the start of the season a three-day break is good enough,” Kumble said. “But in the latter part of the season, we will certainly look at a minimum of a four-day break. There was also a discussion about the weather in various parts of India. Winter in the north, east and certain parts of central; and certain parts of south has little bit of late monsoon. So, that was also discussed.”This was just a preliminary meeting. We did discuss about the outcome of the captains and coaches conclave. We will soon have a meeting in April and at that time we will get into what needs to be recommended to the BCCI for the coming season.”The meeting was attended by all the members of the newly-formed committee, except for chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil, who was in Delhi for India’s fourth Test against Australia. Besides the other committee members, including Kumble, Vinay Lamba, MSK Prasad, Deep Dasgupta, Shashikant Khandkar, Mahendra Rajdev, Debasis Mohanty and VK Ramaswamy, BCCI’s general manager (cricket development) Ratnakar Shetty also attended the meeting.

Somerset 190 for 5 (Petersen 54, Trescothick 53) trail Yorkshire 505 for 9 dec by 315 runs
ScorecardAdil Rashid’s impressive match continued with two wickets before the rain•Getty Images

Yorkshire made promising progress against Somerset on the third morning of their Division One match at Headingley before rain stopped play just before lunch.Tim Bresnan, who is pushing for a place in the England squad ahead of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s next week, claimed two early wickets and leg-spinner Adil Rashid captured two in two balls to reduce Somerset to 190 for 5 by the time the weather intervened.The visitors were left needing a further 226 to avoid the possibility of following on and their situation could have been much worse if Yorkshire had not also spilled two catches.England opener Nick Compton had grafted hard the previous evening for his 33 but when Somerset resumed on 92 for 1 he offered no stroke to the second ball of the day from Bresnan and was out lbw. Nightwatchman Jack Leach survived a confident shout for a catch behind the wicket off Jack Brooks but after edging Bresnan through the slips for four he had his off stump flattened by the same bowler.Bresnan’s double left Somerset on 123 for 3 but Alviro Peterson and James Hildreth stopped the slide with some confident shots, although the South Africa batsman would have gone for 24 if his edge off Steve Patterson had been held low down at second slip by Adam Lyth.There was more misfortune for Patterson when Peterson edged him through the vacant third slip. The gap was then plugged but the chance had gone. Bresnan was rested after his impressive seven over spell from the Football End had brought him two wickets for 25 runs.He was replaced by Richard Pyrah, who was hit to the midwicket boundary by Hildreth, but the batsman then had an escape as Joe Sayers fluffed a chance at third slip. Unperturbed, Hildreth stroked the next ball through the covers for four to take him to 10,000 runs in first class cricket.Rashid found himself unemployed until he was finally given a bowl at 169 for 3 in the 62nd over but Peterson went on to cut him for four to complete his half-century from 76 balls with seven boundaries and a similar shot crossed the rope later in the over.There was revenge for the leg-spinner in his next over when he beat Peterson through the air and he drove a catch to Patterson at mid-on. Arul Suppiah came to the crease and promptly left it, caught by Sayers at short leg off his first ball. Rashid had to wait until his following over to attempt the hat-trick but Jos Buttler survived and the rain came shortly afterwards.

ScorecardAndrea Agathangelou passed fifty for the first time in the Championship and closed in on a century•Getty Images

There is not much Andrea Agathangelou can’t do on a cricket field, it would seem. Capable of bowling off-spinners as well as leg-breaks, he can keep wicket if required, catch flies in the slip cordon and bat anywhere in the top order. But that’s not all.The 23-year-old, who was born in South Africa and has a Cypriot father who once ran the 100 metres in an Olympic qualifying time, is a more than competent squash, rugby and hockey player. Oh, and he has competed in biathlons.Had it not been for a nasty, pre-match injury to Simon Katich, though, Agathangelou would have spent his time here buzzing around on nothing more challenging than 12th man duties. Instead, he stepped forward at short notice to move within seven runs of what would be a terrific maiden Championship century while preventing Lancashire’s innings from being blown away completely by a resurgent David Balcombe.Having joined the Red Rose county on a scholarship in 2010, Agathangelou has a record that includes a stack of runs in South African provincial cricket. But he has had to bide his time at Old Trafford, despite creating a good impression in the second XI, and he made only three Championship appearances last summer with a top score of 24.On today’s evidence, plenty more first team outings will follow. Joining the action with the visitors 95 for 3, he lost partners at regular intervals as Lancashire threatened to fall short of 200 for the third consecutive first innings. While one batsman after another fell to outside edges, though, Agathangelou used the middle of his blade to excellent effect.Driving and cutting with great conviction, he reached 50 with the help of a pulled six off James Vince, then kept his composure when the end looked nigh at 182 for 8.With Glen Chapple, as handy a No 10 as you could wish for, lending stout assistance, 43 precious runs were added. Then Simon Kerrigan took over the supporting role and when rain finally called a halt 12 overs early Agathangelou was well within dreaming distance of three figures.Not that Katich knew much about developments. Having looked forward to playing against his old county, the Australian suffered a nasty blow to the side of his head while batting in the nets less than an hour before start of play and was taken to hospital in a groggy state.Kept in Southampton General for several hours while undergoing tests, Katich was eventually allowed to return to the team hotel where he was later told, no doubt, that his stand-in had played a fine hand.Batting seldom looked an entirely straightforward occupation on a green-tinged pitch that offered enough sideways movement – as well as occasional extra bounce – to keep the pace bowlers interested. Not that bowling, or fielding, was a bowl of cherries, either, thanks to a blustery and bitingly cold wind that prompted Sean Ervine to wear a woolly hat while standing at slip after lunch.Perhaps the unpleasant conditions were at least partly responsible for Balcombe’s nightmare start with the new ball. After three legitimate deliveries of his opening over, he had gone for 21 and was on course for some kind of ghastly record.Balcombe, though, pulled his act together to claim one of the more unlikely five-fors, James Tomlinson drilled a consistently good line and Hampshire, defying cold hands to hold most of their catches, would have been in complete control but for Agathangelou.”It was very unfortunate that Simon got hit but, having been given the chance to play, I’m just pleased I was able to take that chance,” said Lancashire’s star man. “It has been going well for me in the second XI and it felt really good out there today.”Having hit 14 fours as well as that six off Vince, and faced 156 balls, two or three more solid blows would take him to his century. “Fingers crossed,” said Agathangelou, who believes he will complete his England qualification period at the end of this year.

ScorecardNeil McKenzie again proved a matchwinner in a tense finish•Getty Images

Neil McKenzie hit the last ball of the match for four to guide champions Hampshire to a four-wicket win over Sussex in the Friends Life t20 South group clash at the Ageas Bowl.Experienced McKenzie kept his nerve as wickets tumbled in Hampshire’s pursuit of Sussex’s modest total of 118 for 7. They went into the last over from Scott Styris requiring six to win and a single was needed off the final ball.As Sussex crowded the South African with a ring of close fielders, McKenzie lifted his shot to midwicket, thereby ensuring Hampshire’s third win in four fixtures.In many ways it was a remarkable match despite the low-scoring because Hampshire, after losing the toss, were 73 for 1 at the halfway stage, needing only another 46 for what looked to be a comfortable victory.A disastrous over from West Indian Dwayne Smith had set Hampshire on their way. Smith conceded 24 from his one and only over to openers James Vince and Michael Carberry with each hitting him for two fours and Carberry adding a six.But from a position of control, Hampshire inexplicably lost their way and McKenzie’s winning shot was only their second boundary during the second half of their innings..Chris Nash and Chris Liddle imposed a belated stranglehold, taking four wickets between them and conceding only 28 from their combined eight overs. Nash had Jimmy Adams stumped at 80 in the 12th over, top scorer Carberry (41) was caught on the cover boundary at 84 and suddenly Hampshire were in danger of collapsing.The majority of a crowd of around 8,000 were stunned into silence as Liddle got rid of Sean Ervine at 101, Liam Dawson hit his own wicket at 111 and in the same over from Michael Yardy, Adam Wheater was caught and bowled without scoring.At 112 for 6 with seven balls remaining Hampshire needed the know-how of McKenzie and Dimitri Mascarenhas to see them home, leaving Sussex to regret Smith’s desperate intervention.When Sussex batted their total never looked likely to trouble the champions and they did not recover from losing Luke Wright, the luckless Smith and Yardy in the first five overs.Styris and Nash threatened a mini-revival with a stand of 41 for the fifth wicket but Nash’s fighting innings of 40 from as many balls could only delay Hampshire’s progress for so long, Mascarenhas and Sohail Tanvir each taking two wickets.

ScorecardAshwell prince made a calming 80 to bring his side home•Getty Images

Lancashire boosted their hopes of reaching the Yorkshire Bank 40 semi-finals for the second year running with a resounding six-wicket win over Derbyshire at Old Trafford.The Lightning returned to this competition following a break for the Friend’s Life Twenty20 targeting four wins from their last four Group B matches to give them a chance of progressing – and things began well on Tuesday. After comfortably chasing down 191, they have now won four matches on the bounce in the 40-over format, with former South Africa international Ashwell Prince top-scoring with an unbeaten 80 off 75 balls.Offspinner Arron Lilley and ex-England quick Kabir Ali both took four wickets each to help restrict Derbyshire to 190 for 9, although they had been tottering on 92 for 6 after 25 overs. They were boosted by career bests of 78 and 40 from captain Wayne Madsen and David Wainwright, who shared 80 in 12.3 overs for the seventh wicket.Lilley took 4 for 30 from his first seven overs in this competition, despite debuting at the back end of last season. Ali’s 4 for 37 from eight were his best figures since August 2007 when playing for Worcestershire.Lilley was the one who did the early damage with four of the first six wickets, including Alex Hughes and Tom Poynton in the space of three balls in the 25th over, before Ali returned at the death to take two of his wickets in the last over.Madsen benefited from being dropped on 12 by Ali from mid-on after a lack of communication with sub fielder Karl Brown running around from mid-off. Ali got his hands on the ball bowled by Tom Smith before colliding with his colleague, who was trying to get out of the way.Right-hander Madsen hit five fours and a straight six off Steven Croft in his 92-ball innings, which ended when he cut Ali to backward point in the 38th over.Lancashire openers Stephen Moore (34) and Smith shared 53 in 8.3 overs to get their chase off to an excellent start before falling to Wes Durston’s offspin to leave the score at 86 for 2 in the 17th. But despite the loss of Simon Katich and Croft to Madsen and Tim Groenewald later in the chase, Prince’s presence at the crease meant Lancashire were always cruising as he posted his fourth score above 50 in the competition.He hit six fours and two sixes before Jordan Clark finished the match off with two sixes off Hughes’ medium pace as Lancashire won with 26 balls to spare.