Sussex Sharks lose to Hampshire Hawks at Hove

The visitors had a few wobbles late on as they chased a target of 181.

They got there with five balls and five wickets to spare as Sussex failed to find support with the ball for Ravi Bopara and Rashid Khan.

The game marked the end of Will Beer’s 15-year career with Sussex.

His one complete over went for just seven but he was surprisingly not called again until the contest was all but settled.

Sharks close the season with four wins and ten defeats from their 14 South Group fixtures.

They lost eight of the last nine while Hampshire won nine of their last ten.

Sussex cobbled together what looked a competitive score of 180-8 even though no batman ever dominated for any significant period of time.

Tom Haines made 27 from 20 on his T20 debut, Bopara 35 from 25 and Delray Rawlins 29 off 22.

Rawlins took a painful blow as he fell trying to play a shot against Mason Crane.

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But he picked himself up to pull the next ball for a ferocious six, the first of his two maximums.

George Garton was inventive for his 37 off 17 and Khan found some form with the bat for the first time this season with 25 off 12 at the end.

Crane bowled as well as at any time this season as he took 2-23 from four overs on his return to Hove.

James Vince and Ben McDermott were brutal in their riposte.

Hampshire closed the powerplay on 64 without loss and the openers put on 86 before McDermott was pinned in front by Bopara, Sussex’s best bowler.

Vince clubbed 12 fours in his 65 off 42 balls, an innings which ended when he skyed Rawlins to the keeper.

Khan had Tom Prest right in front and there were a few jitters when he later removed Toby Albert, who was looking to reverse sweep.

Khan then held Joe Weatherley low down off Bopara behind square and the required rate was up to ten in the closing stages.

But the 19th over, delivered by Garton, went for 15.

Beer was given the 20th over and James Fuller sent it for four to settle the contest.