Classic catch is difference for Hants
Sussex 259-6 lost to Hampshire 268-9 by 9 runs
MARK Davis admitted that Lewis McManus’ fantastic catch to remove Ben Brown was crucial as Hampshire hung on for a nine-run victory over Sussex that keeps their hopes alive.
Chasing Hampshire’s 268-9 – inspired by Jimmy Adams’ 92 at the top of the order – Sussex were still in the hunt as Brown (62) and Chris Nash (69no) added 125.
But keeper McManus took a brilliant catch to his right to remove Brown off the bowling of Ryan McLaren, and from there Sussex couldn’t quite manage the 35 runs they needed from 21 deliveries
Sussex head coach Davis said: “It’s a tough one to lose. Hampshire did really well in the field to restrict us.
“That’s the game, when you hit the ball in the air, that’s what happens. It’s a good catch and that’s it.We were really committed, we gave everything but just weren’t good enough.
“It was closely contested but we didn’t get over the line.”
Earlier Adams and Adam Wheater (42) had helped lay the platform for Hampshire, but a late flurry of runs from McLaren, who cracked an unbeaten 46 off 39 balls, was just as vital.
Teenage England Lion George Garton (3-30) removed Adams and enjoyed a good day with the ball, but it was McLaren who was to prove the matchwinner.
He followed up his cameo with the bat by playing the leading role with the ball, finishing with figures of 3-54 to keep Hampshire in the hunt for the quarter-finals.