Wright in a hurry in Blast nailbiter
Sussex skipper stars as Hampshire suffer Hove defeat
James Fuller suffered mixed fortunes as Hampshire lost their second T20 Blast group game off the penultimate ball at south coast neighbours Sussex. The all-rounder’s day started well when he belted his first-ever T20 half-century in his 55th innings in the shortest format. Fuller lashed five sixes in a 31-ball 53 not out as Hampshire posted a competitive 176-5 at a deserted Hove. But Fuller then conceded 29 runs off his first over as Sussex openers Luke Wright and Phil Salt brought up a half-century stand in 4.4 overs. Both players hit Fuller for two sixes in his opening six deliveries. It was a second dismal start for Hampshire in four days, with Kent openers Zac Crawley and Daniel BellDrummond have hammered 52 off 4.1 overs at Canterbury in the opening game before rain brought a premature end. No English-qualified batsman in history has scored more T20 runs than 35-year-old Sussex skipper Wright, and here he led by example with a thunderous innings of 82 from 55 balls. Victory for Sussex was always likely once Wright and Phil Salt had put on 89 for the first wicket in just eight overs – the normally dominating Salt was on 23 when Wright reached his half-century. But there was drama in the last over, when Sussex still needed six to win. Ravi Bopara was out lbw to Fuller’s first delivery before new batsman Harry Finch hit a single to leave five required off four. David Wiese pulled to the leg-side boundary for another single, but when Fuller bowled a dot ball to Finch Sussex suddenly needed four runs off two balls. Finch, though, pulled the penultimate delivery to the square leg boundary to leave Wiese unbeaten on a coolheaded 43. One of Wright’s sixes broke a flat window outside the east side of the ground, something Fuller had achieved in the Hampshire innings as both teams exploited the short boundary there.
Wright hit eight fours and four sixes and when he was out in the 17th over Sussex needed just another 22 runs for victory.
Hampshire had started poorly when George Munsey was out second ball, well caught by the returning Wiese at mid-on off George Garton.
And the innings continued to falter, with just one of the first five batsmen reaching double figures.
They lost their second wicket in the fourth over when Sam Northeast, surprised by the bounce of a Tymal Mills delivery, was caught at backward point.
Anditwas49 for three when Joe Weatherley was caught on the leg-side boundary by Ollie Robinson to give ex-Ageas Bowl favourite
Danny Briggs (3-17 off four overs) his first wicket.
The first half of the Hampshire innings was held together by Tom Alsop, who took few risks in compiling a 42-ball fifty, with seven fours.
He lost his fourth partner, Lewis McManus, at 77, and he was out himself immediately after reaching his half-century to make it 88 for five in the 13th over.
The innings was then transformed by some strongarm tactics from Fuller, whose unbeaten half-century contained just one four as well as the five sixes, including three in one Garton over.
Fuller was well supported by Ian Holland, who made a 22-ball unbeaten 36, easily his highest T20 score the county.
Hampshire’s third group game is against Essex at Chelmsford tomorrow.