Brown helps Hampshire to comfortable one-day win
Jones fightback not enough for Worcs
Tuesday, 20, May 2008 11:31
Michael Brown's batting helped Hampshire to victory at Worcestershire in the Friends Provident Trophy.
Brown hit an unbeaten 96 as his side put a shaky start behind them to win by four wickets at the Rose Bowl.
The home side slumped to an early 65 for 6 thanks to some inspired fast bowling from Simon Jones, who dismissed Jimmy Adams and then Greg Lamb in successive balls.
However, Dimitri Mascarenhas soon demonstrated his worth to both Hampshire as well as his IPL side the Rajasthan Royal, forging a solid partnership of 137 with Brown to give the hosts a comfortable cushion going into the second innings of the game.
Mascarenhas also proved just as deadly at the other end of the seam, reducing Worcestershire to 66 for 6, while 18-year-old Hazma Riazuddin capped a fine one-day debut display made on the day he also took a school exam with a maiden wicket.
The win keeps Hampshire's hopes of securing a quarter-final Friends Provident spot very much alive, though it is yet to be seen whether of not Mascarenhas will return to Indi now that his side have reached the semi-finals of the competition over there.