Hampshire enter the promotion chase

National League Division Two
Table

Hampshire 250 for 4 beat Nottinghamshire 249 for 6 by six wickets at Trent Bridge
Scorecard
Hampshire put themselves in the reckoning for promotion with a last-gasp victory over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, overcoming a slow pitch and the handicap of batting under lights. It all came down to the last ball which John Francis drove wide of Chris Cairns at short extra-cover and Hampshire scrambled the two runs they needed.

Nottinghamshire won the toss but started hesitantly, slipping to 57 for 3 before Russell Warren emerged to play the anchor role with a solid 91 while Kevin Pietersen (75) and Chris Read (38*) provided the acceleration. Warren and Pietersen added 122 for the fourth wicket in 22 overs.

Hampshire's reply was perfectly paced with half-centuries from Simon Katich, Derek Kenway and John Crawley setting them on their way. Their progress was briefly checked when Katich was run-out for 67 (after an inordinately long wait for the third umpire's decision) but Kenway maintained the required rate and then Crawley pushed and prodded his way to the fastest fifty of the evening, made off 54 balls.