Hampshire II lost their final championship match of the season against Sussex at The Rose Bowl yesterday, but didn't go down without a fight.

Defending just 191 on the final afternoon of the game, the home team put in a spirited bowling performance, and had Sussex reeling at 161-8 before an unbroken stand of 33 between Krishna Singh and number ten Jason Lewry scraped the Sharks to a close victory.

Opening bowlers James Schofield and James Bruce both took early wickets but some good batting from Neil Turk (46) and Richard Jackson (28) looked to be taking Sussex to a simple victory.

However, Irfan Shah put in a brilliant spell of spin bowling, tying the pair down and then having them both out as he started a Sussex wobble.

Jackson was well caught at short leg by Damien Shirazi, and Turk miscued one to the safe hands of Chris Benham at mid-off.

Chris Nash was clean bowled by Schofield, who returned a fiery spell from the pavilion end, and he then had Andy Hodd caught behind straight away from a fast, lifting delivery.

Singh and Paul Hutchinson consolidated for a while, but when Bruce returned to induce a thin edge from the left-handed Hutchinson, the game seemed to be swinging Hampshire's way.

Singh twice inside-edged past his stumps from Shah, and then edged one straight between first and second slip, at which point the Hawks realised it wasn't to be, and Sussex passed their total with just two wickets left.