Sussex Sharks ended a dismal campaign with another defeat against Hampshire at Hove Cricket Ground. The Sharks lost eight of their last nine games in the vitality blast.
Relentless hitting from in-form batter James Vince who smashed 65 from 42 deliveries (12x4s), ensured Hampshire were on-course in the chase as they defeated Sussex Sharks by five wickets.
Solid contributions from batters down the order helped Sussex Sharks post a daunting total of 180-6 from their 20 overs.
The Sharks lost their openers Josh Phillippe and Ali Orr inside three overs and struggled for any momentum at the start of their innings before Tom Haines and Harrison Ward smashed Brad Wheal for 21 runs in the final over of the powerplay.
Ward and Haines were sent packing in consecutive overs just after the powerplay, and Sussex were reeling at 68-4 after 10 overs before skipper Ravi Bopara, and Delray Rawlins put together a partnership to steady the ship for the Sharks.
Both were soon dismissed as they looked to up the ante. Mason Crane impressed with figures of 23-2 from his four overs.
The Sharks innings lacked impetus before a flurry from George Garton and Rashid Khan towards the end. Garton smashed 37 from just 17 balls (3x4s, 3x6s), and Rashid finished with 25 from 12, which helped set up a target of 181 for Hampshire.
Chris Wood and Brad Wheal were expensive with the ball but picked up a couple of wickets each, whereas James Fuller and Tom Prest picked up one each.
James Vince continued his tremendous form in the tournament as he took the opposition bowlers to the fences from the start of the chase. Hampshire motored through to 64-0 inside the powerplay.
Bopara gave the Sharks a breakthrough in the ninth over when he dismissed Ben McDermott, who provided Vince valuable support in their opening stand of 84 runs.
Hampshire were always ahead of the required run rate in the chase and looked set to finish the game with overs to spare.
However, after Vince 65(42) skied one to wicketkeeper Phillippe off the bowling of Rawlins, the middle order of Tom Prest, Joe Weatherly and Toby Albert departed cheaply, giving the Sharks an outside chance.
Ross Whitley’s 16 from 11 and James Fuller’s 19 from 7 ensured no changes in the script as Hampshire successfully chased down the total with five balls to spare.
Sharks star spinner Rashid Khan impressed with 24-2 from his spell, but a lackluster performance from the bowling unit ensured Sussex suffered their 10th defeat of the season.
