2nd XI: Weatherley Hits Fifty In Narrow Hants Defeat At Surrey

Hampshire Second XI captain Joe Weatherley returned to fifty-hitting form in T20 action, scoring 62 runs off 44 balls in a 3-wicket defeat to Surrey at Purley CC.

Aaron West (54) batted excellently alongside the skipper and Josh McCoy took 3-24 with the ball, but the visitors' 145-run total was surpassed by Surrey with the penultimate ball.

Rain then prevented a result in the second match of the T20 double-header at Purley.

In a close encounter, Hampshire were initially reduced to 12-3 by Surrey bowler van den Bergh, but Weatherley (62) and Aaron West (54) put Hampshire back on track for a competitive total by forging a 115-run partnership, 127-4 with three overs remaining.

Surrey Bowler Burke removed the pair in three deliveries though, restricting Hampshire to 131-6 midway through the 18th over, before Lintott and Hovey pushed Hants on to 145-7, setting Surrey a 146-run target for victory.

Hampshire began brilliantly in the field, as Josh McCoy and Brad Wheal struck with the bat to remove the opening pair of Batchelor and Kapil.

Surrey all-rounder Burke recovered the situation for the home side, hitting a measure 26-run innings and helping take the home side to 87-3 in the 13th over, before Fraser Hay struck with the ball for Hampshire.

Josh McCoy removed the key wicket of Patel - whose 40 runs off 34 balls had left the game finely balanced - but Harinath's (37) winning contribution took Surrey 1 run beyond the visitors' 145-7 on the penultimate ball of the match.