Kyle Abbott and Mason Crane inspire last-gasp Hampshire win in Sussex thriller

The Hants bowling pair take late wickets to deny the Sharks an unlikely win despite David Wiese's century.

The Ageas Bowl: Hampshire 355-5, Sussex 346 - Hampshire won by nine runs

Scorecard

Hampshire edged out a high scoring thriller as Kyle Abbott and Mason Crane held their nerves as Sussex Sharks produced a second unbelievable Royal London One Day Cup match in three days.

David Wiese scored an epic 171 to take Sussex within 13 runs of a victory after slipping to 103 for 5 chasing a massive 355.

But Abbott’s 10th over, the 49th of the match saw the game turn back into Hampshire’s direction as he got rid of Wiese and Danny Briggs and only went for nine runs.

While Crane took 4-55, including two in the final over to put Hampshire on the brink of a knockout spot with a nine-run victory.

The result was as incredible as the Sharks’ one-wicket victory over Essex on Tuesday, which saw Will Beer and Laurie Evans put on a three figure stand for the seventh wicket before No.10 Danny Briggs scored the winning runs with a ball to spare.

On that occasion, the Sussex players had sung The Great Escape on their return to the dressing room.

But at the Ageas Bowl, Hampshire sang the theme to the classic film.

It looked like a regulation Hampshire win when Luke Wright fell in the third over when Kyle Abbott jagged a delivery into his middle-stump before Phil Salt flashed to Aneurin Donald at point.

The slide continued when Garton was lbw attempting to reverse sweep Liam Dawson and Harry Finch pulled a Fuller bouncer to deep square-leg.

When Dawson bowled Evans, all appeared lost for Sussex with the match drifting towards a simple home win – but Wiese and Brown collided to swing the game towards the visitors.

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Wiese had proven his batting prowess earlier in the tournament when he scored 93 not out against Surrey.

Wiese then went through the gears effectively as he reached his half-century in 57 balls.

And his acceleration was quantified as only needed 26 more balls to reach three figures, with six fours and three maximums included in the barrage.

Alongside Wiese, Brown was quietly accompanying with a pacy half-century of his own. 

Wiese took the WASP from a one per cent of victory to 81 per cent as he moved past 150 in 120 balls.

Brown departed for 64 with 21 still to win when he reversed swept to Dawson at backward point.

But Abbott found Wiese rarely mishitting to long-on before Briggs chipped to Gareth Berg.

And the crazy game was concluded when Crane had Will Beer and Mir Hamza stumped.

Earlier, Hampshire had appeared to score an unassailable 355 after stand-in captain Sam Northeast won the toss and elected to bat.

Hampshire were forced to reshuffle their top order with James Vince on England duty in Ireland, with Aneurin Donald moved up to open with Alsop.

The pair put on 78, the best opening stand for the season, in a watchful manner, which prioritised running hard to boundaries.

Donald was well caught on the square-leg boundary, while pulling, but that didn’t deter Hampshire as Markram joined Alsop.

Again, the duo refused to take unnecessary risks but when they did they used their power to explosive effect – Markram pumping a pair of sixes over extra-cover a particular highlight from the stand.

He looked confidently steady while reaching a half-century in 71 balls.

But it was Markram who brought the glamour, often provided by Vince, with glittering drives – half of his 16 fours coming between cover and mid-on – and pressure relieving punches. His fifty came from 48 deliveries.

Sussex’s fielding was well below par, and probably cost them a chunk of runs, with Markram and Alsop both shelled on their ways to three figures.

The partnership continued to blossom and took Hampshire to the last 10 overs just one wicket down before Alsop, having reached three figures off 116 balls, picked out George Garton at long off – the stand worth 184.

Markram continued his fun and reached his maiden three figures for Hampshire in his penultimate fixture before the World Cup from 73 balls.

Rilee Rossouw and James Fuller were hoisted up the order to boost the run rate but both departed, alongside Markram in the last five overs while attempting aggressive shots – as they just score enough.

Report courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network