Hampshire Hawks lose under lights at Old Trafford

Hampshire Hawks suffered yet another defeat in the Norwich Union League Division II match this time against Lancashire Lightning, their sixth successive reverse in this league.

There were perhaps a few more optimistic points to this performance than of late, in particular the batting of Jason Laney, and the bowling of the young James Tomlinson.

Choosing to bat first, as is the norm in these floodlit matches, Hampshire struggled early on against the Lancashire seamers, the muggy conditions making the ball wobble about alarmingly.

At 60 for 5, an early finish looked on the card, but this time the batting fought back, and posting 187 in the end was a testament to the grit that this team has at times. Jason Laney who has not been having the best of seasons scored a gritty 71, and he was helped in partnerships with Kendall, Mascarenhas and Tremlett.

A partnership of 116 between Stuart Law and Mark Chilton gave Lancashire a platform that should have seen them coast to victory, not without controversy, when Law edged Tremlett to Johnson at slip, and was three parts back to the pavilion when he was called back, for the umpires to consult the third TV umpire, who was undecided by numerous replays, and had to give the benefit of the doubt to the batsman.

On Law's dismissal finally, Lancashire began to panic, and wickets fell at intervals, until with seven required off the last over skipper Warren Hegg drove Tomlinson for four to win it for the home side.

Some questions however remained. Why was Law allowed to hang around when he had first accepted the catch from Johnson, why did Mullally and the economical Tremlett not bowl their full allocation of overs and why was Stuart Law awarded the Man of the Match award, an overpaid overseas star, when really Mark Chilton deserved the honour.