Centurion Dawson inspires brilliant Hampshire win

Skipper Dawson, whose ton arrived from just 69 balls, helped Hampshire set an impressive total of 316 for five, with Will Smith (84) ably supporting him.

Ryan McLaren and Gareth Berg then ripped through the Glamorgan batting line-up with four wickets apiece to ensure the contest ended 18 overs ahead of schedule.

Hampshire now host South group leaders Somerset on Tuesday knowing a win will seal their place in the last eight of the competition.

Dawson said: ‘The win sets us up nicely for the final game against Somerset on Tuesday, and a chance to qualify for the quarter-finals.

‘We were undecided what to do after winning the toss, but knowing the history of the Swansea ground, it was a good decision, as the pitch doesn’t get any better in the second innings.

‘We thought that around 270 would have been competitive, but to reach 316 was a massive bonus’.

Hampshire scored freely after winning the toss, with Smith, Alsop and McLaren sharing useful partnerships with Dawson, who accelerated towards the end of his innings to reach three figures from the last ball.

His runs came from just 69 balls, with three fours and four sixes as 40 runs were plundered in the final two overs.

Earlier, Alsop, who has struck a hundred and three fifties in the competition this season, made a fluent 35, before chipping Craig Meschede to mid-on.

Smith, meanwhile, made the most of being dropped on 23 at mid-wicket off Andrew Salter, to share an important partnership of 86 with Dawson for the fourth wicket.

Jimmy Adams, who opened the batting with Alsop, made 33 before he was the first to depart the scene.

Youngster Joe Weatherley was also in the runs as he hit 27 to help the visitors keep ticking along nicely.

Gareth Andrew was the last man in for Hampshire, grabbing three runs before making a greater contribution with the ball – claiming two wickets.

Any hopes Glamorgan had of progressing to the quarter-finals of the competition were effectively ended in the first 12 overs of their innings at Swansea, when they collapsed to 29 for six against the swing and seam of McLaren and Berg.

n Georgia Adams hit 41 as the Southern Vipers produced a flawless display with bat and ball to start their Kia Super League campaign with a six-wicket bonus-point win over Surrey Stars.

Opening batsman Adams crunched her impressive tally from 43 balls with a stylish knock, partnered wonderfully by New Zealand international Suzie Bates.

Despite a mini-wobble with victory in their sights the Vipers chased down 85 with 29 balls to spare in front of an incredible crowd of 2,240 at the Ageas Bowl.

Adams said: ‘It was nice to get runs first up, and it was nice to get out there in front of a very large crowd, which is new to me.

‘You can’t really describe batting with Suzie, it is another level.

‘In some respects it takes the pressure off as you know you have some who can strike the ball like no woman I have ever seen.

‘But in some respects you want to step up to the plate and show her what you’ve got.

‘Suzie guided me through that innings.’