News: Hampshire run continues

Hampshire run continues

Mascarenhas: Crucial early wickets

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Friends Life t20 South Group leaders Hampshire claimed a 10th win in 13 matches as they secured a nine-run Duckworth-Lewis victory over Essex at the Rose Bowl.

The Eagles were set a revised target of 132 after two stoppages for rain but were in trouble from the start as Dimitri Mascarenhas took three early wickets.

James Vince had earlier scored 55 for Hampshire as the Royals, who are in a strong position to qualify for the quarter-finals as group winners, set what proved to be a winning total of 151-7.

After Mascarenhas reduced Essex to 18-3 they never fully recovered, although Owais Shah and Ravi Bopara sparked hopes of a comeback with a fourth-wicket stand of 55.

Bopara top-scored with 48 while Shah struck four fours and a six during his knock of 38, but it was not enough as the visitors reached only 122-6 from their 17 overs.

Hampshire elected to bat after winning the toss and were in a spot of trouble at 32-3, before an 85-run fourth-wicket partnership between Vince and Sean Ervine turned the innings around.

Vince was trapped lbw by Tim Phillips after passing his half-century while Ervine (45) was bowled by New Zealander Tim Southee (3-30).

There were no late fireworks from star batsman Shahid Afridi, who was dismissed for just four, but the lack of quick runs late on would not prove to be costly.