By Jeremy Horne
June 4 2002

Middlesex lost to Hampshire by two runs in a tense Lords finish. David Nash could only manage two runs off the final ball, when a six was needed, meaning that Middlesex are still searching for their first National League victory of the season. Earlier, Hampshire had been restricted to 183-8, with Abdur Razzaq taking 3-25. There were also two wickets apiece for Tim Bloomfield and Paul Weekes. Nic Pothas to scored for Hampshire with 39 not out.

Middlesex began their reply well with a stand of 69 between Andrew Strauss and Sven Koenig for the first wicket, but the departure of both within three balls of each other rocked the chase. David Nash remained 30 not out at the end, but it wasn’t enough.

Hampshire Innings:

Hamblin c Nash b Bloomfield 8
Johnson lbw b Abdur Razzaq 26
Kenway lbw b Bloomfield 13
Crawley c Hutton b Abdur Razzaq 31
White lbw b Keegan 25
Pothas Not out 39
Kendall lbw b Abdur Razzaq 13
Mascarenhas b Weekes 2
Udal c Bloomfield b Weekes 9
Tremlett Not out 5

Extras 12

Total (for 8 wickets, 45 overs) 183

Did not bat: Mullally

Middlesex innings:

Strauss c Pothas b Tremlett 35
Koenig lbw b Udal 24
Hutton c Mascarenhas b Johnson 9
Shah c Hamblin b Udal 26
Abdur Razzaq b Johnson 14
Joyce lbw b Udal 3
Weekes c Udal b Mullally 4
Cook Run out 17
Nash Not out 30
Keegan Run out 1
Bloomfield Not out 0

Extras 18

Total (for 9 wickets, 45 overs) 181

Result: Hampshire won by 2 runs