On This Day: Greenidge Powers Hampshire To Sunday League Victory

Hampshire Cricket's historian Dave Allen takes a look back on timely memorable moments in his ‘On This Day’ series.

Hampshire (216-4) v Yorkshire (130) , Championship, Portsmouth: 6 August 1978

Yorkshire were in Portsmouth for a Sunday League match as Hampshire were pursuing their second Sunday League title.

Yorkshire captain Geoff Boycott won the toss, invited Hampshire to bat and probably regretted it fairly soon.

His first change bowler Howard Cooper took the first wicket as opener Richard Gilliat went for 31 but the total was then already 133, with Gordon Greenidge in blistering form.

He hit 10 fours and five sixes in an innings of 116 as Hampshire, in a truncated game posted 216-4 from 34 overs (Jesty 33*). The spectators in attendance were also entertained to a fly-past of a WW2 Spitfire and Hurricane.

When Yorkshire batted, Boycott (40) lost Sharp to Tim Tremlett with five on the board, then he and Bill Athey got the score to 70 before John Rice (3-25) dismissed them both.

From that point it was something of a procession, with Mike Taylor taking 4-36 as Yorkshire, all out 130, lost by 86 runs. Within a month, Hampshire were Champions.