On This Day: Hampshire Say Goodbye To The United Services Ground In Portsmouth

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

Hampshire (190-9) v Middlesex (192-6) , National League Division Two, Portsmouth: 23 July 2000

Hampshire lost this 45-overs Division Two match in the final over by four wickets – so far, so unremarkable - but it warrants a mention in the history of the club as the final competitive match played by Hampshire at the United Services Ground in Portsmouth.

Over the previous four days, Hampshire had lost an often-enthralling Championship match against Kent, graced on the second afternoon by a wonderful duel between Rahul Dravid and Shane Warne. Dravid with 137 came out on top, although ironically, he succumbed to Hampshire’s part-time ‘leggie’ Giles White, who then proceeded to carry his bat with 80* of just 136 (Patel 5-46) in Hampshire’s second innings. That left Kent, 68 behind on first innings, with a target of 205, and despite four wickets for Udal they won with six wickets to spare; Paul Weekes hitting the winning runs.

On the Sunday Robin Smith made 42, but his run out meant that Hampshire, at one time 121-2, reached just 190-9. Middlesex wobbled at 52-3 but got to 183-4 (Roseberry 54, Ramprakash 46). The crowd, sensing the inevitable, were distracted by a streaker, although Middlesex took longer than expected to reach their target on 192-6 with four balls left, as Portsmouth waved goodbye to the county after 105 years.