Hants to face Sussex in Lord's final (From Daily Echo)

Hants to face Sussex in Lord's final

10:00am Monday 6th July 2009 in

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Hampshire (271) bt Lancashire (207) by 64 runs

He watched Hampshire’s last two Lord’s finals from the stands, but Jimmy Adams will be one of the first names on the teamsheet on July 25.

Man-of-the-match Adams was not considered a one-day player when Hampshire played at headquarters in 2005 and 2007.

But he booked the county’s third showpiece final in five years with a blistering 78 against Lancashire at Old Trafford – before holding on to two catch-of-the-season contenders.

Adams smashed faced just 71 balls during a record-breaking opening partnership with Michael Lumb that helped Hampshire amass 271 on a good wicket after losing the toss.

It took a brilliant catch by Francois du Plessis at point to end Adams’ blitzkrieg.

But then he outshone Du Plessis in the field with two stunning catches, at backward point and cover.

The first removed Du Plessis himself and then a disbelieving VVS Laxman was sent on his way midway through Lancashire’s chase.

Hampshire went on to win comfortably, by 64 runs, to book a dream date at Lord's with Sussex, who beat Gloucestershire at Hove.

Having replacing John Crawley in Hampshire’s last FP Trophy group game, which was effectively a last-16 tie against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, Adams has been a revelation.

FP Trophy scores of 73 not out and 76 in the quarter final against Middlesex preceeded yesterday’s match-winning performance.

His electric 159-run stand with Lumb during the first 25 overs of Hampshire’s innings was the county’s highest partnership for any wicket in a one-day match against Lancashire (surpassing Tony Middleton and Robin Smith’s 134-run second wicket alliance in a Benson & Hedges Cup group win at Old Trafford in 1992).

Adams’ awesome 78 (71 balls) included sixes over long-on against the pace of Sajid Mahmood and du Plessis’s leg spin and his crisp strokeplay also yielded six fours.

Lumb deposited Glenn Chapple over long leg on one of the rare occasions when the Lancashire skipper strayed on to his legs. He also hit six fours during his 76 (79 balls).

Their partnership should have laid the foundations for a 300-plus total.

But Mahmood claimed both Hampshire openers in his first eight balls after switching to the Stretford End.

Du Plessis plucked a rocket of an Adams square cut with his left hand to break the partnership, then Lumb hit a slower ball to mid on.

The Hawks lost their ten wickets for 112 runs in 24 overs, before being dismissed with eight balls of their allocation remaining.

Veteran slow left-armer Gary Keedy (3-49) took three important wickets but benefited from a poor decision by umpire Richard Kettleborough, when Michael Carberry (12) was lbw to a ball that hit him outside the line.

Ervine was bowled attempting a slog sweep and umpire Kettleborough had it right when Liam Dawson (6) was lbw to a ball he went back to.

Hampshire were still relatively well placed at 232-5 when their final ten overs began. But Chris Benham (29) edged Chapple and Pothas missed a Kyle Hogg off cutter.

Welcomed to the crease by a chorus of boos, Cork was well caught by his former Derbyshire and Lancashire teammate Luke Sutton as Hampshire lost their last three wickets during the batting powerplay.

Mascarenhas (13) failed to reproduce the form he showed during his match-winning Championship century at Liverpool two weeks ago, well caught by Hogg at mid-wicket in Mahmood’s penultimate over. Then last-man Tahir spliced to cover.

But with their well-balanced attack, Hampshire were always confident of defending 271.

Captain Dimi Mascarenhas (2-35) led from the front, finding Paul Horton’s outside edge with his first delivery.

On his return to the ground where he took a record-breaking 12-189 on his Championship debut for Hampshire this time last year, Imran Tahir (3-38) was again outstanding.

He also made a vital breakthrough in his first over, trapping Mal Loye (31) lbw with a leg break.

Sean Ervine (2-28) generated good pace, hitting the 85mph mark during an impressive spell in which Mark Chilton was well caught by Carberry at deep mid-wicket and Du Plessis sensationally snared by Adams.

Diving to his left at backward point, Adams held on one-handed as he dived full stretch to dismiss the hero of Lancashire’s quarter-final win at Old Trafford.

And Lancashire’s overseas star VVS Laxman (54) stared incredulously when, after making room to drive Liam Dawson through the covers, Adams denied him with the most athletic of two-handed catches.

When Mascarenhas pinned Luke Sutton (22) in his first over back, confirmation of Hampshire's victory was only a matter of time.

Tahir and Chris Tremlett shared the last four wickets to ensure another Lord’s date to the delight of the strong Hampshire contingent in the 8,250 crowd.

Hampshire bowling: Cork 4-0-19-0, Mascarenhas 8-1-35-2, Tremlett 7.4-0-44-2, Imran Tahir 10-0-38-3, Ervine 8-0-28-2, Dawson 8-1-34-1

Lancashire bowling: Chapple 9.4-2-46-3, Hogg 9-0-37-1, Mahmood 9-0-56-3, Croft 2-0-19-0,Du Plessis 9-0-55-0, Keedy 10-0-49-3