On This Day: Wheal Holds His Nerve As Hampshire Win 'el clasicoast' Thriller

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

Hamsphire (134-9) v Sussex Sharks (133-8), T20 Blast, Hove: 15 July 2016

Sussex were Hampshire’s first opponents in the T20 back in 2003, and we have had some interesting meetings over the years. 2016 was a disappointing season for the Hampshire side but this low-scoring affair at Hove was one to savour.

With James Vince on Test Match duty, Sean Ervine captained Hampshire and helped Wheater and Alsop (25) to post 58 before the second wicket fell but after that, only Dawson (25) resisted Chris Jordan (4-0-14-2) and Will Beer 2-27.

At half-time, Sussex looked favourites with a target of 135 but the somewhat makeshift pace attack of Griffith (3-33), Wheal (2-17) and Tino Best created problems, while Afridi bowled his four overs for just 13 runs.

Sussex reached 109-3 and needed just 26 runs from 28 balls, when Machan was lbw to Wheal for 29 and Sussex were 132-6 with three balls remaining when Beer was run out. Ross Taylor (46*) faced the final ball but Jordan was run out by Afridi and Hampshire were home by the narrowest margin.