Dimi’s hat-trick, Luke’s century and some very low scores – memorable T20 games between Hampshire and Sussex

Hampshire were due to play their 200th domestic T20 match against Sussex at the Ageas Bowl tonight.
Shahid Afridi celebrates the dismissal of Lou Vincent - one of his three wickets in the T20 win against Sussex in June 2011. Pic: Michael JonesShahid Afridi celebrates the dismissal of Lou Vincent - one of his three wickets in the T20 win against Sussex in June 2011. Pic: Michael Jones
Shahid Afridi celebrates the dismissal of Lou Vincent - one of his three wickets in the T20 win against Sussex in June 2011. Pic: Michael Jones

Of their 199 games, they have won almost half - 100 - and lost 84. There have been 10 no results and five ties.

Hampshire have played Middlesex the most times - 31 - and recorded their most wins (19) against the same county.

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They have played both Sussex and Kent 29 times, with 15 victories against Sussex and 11 defeats.

Imran Tahir celebrates the dismissal of Murray Goodwin (Sussex) - one of his three wickets in the match at The Ageas Bowl in June 2011. Pic: Michael JonesImran Tahir celebrates the dismissal of Murray Goodwin (Sussex) - one of his three wickets in the match at The Ageas Bowl in June 2011. Pic: Michael Jones
Imran Tahir celebrates the dismissal of Murray Goodwin (Sussex) - one of his three wickets in the match at The Ageas Bowl in June 2011. Pic: Michael Jones

Here, The News looks back at some of the most memorable T20 games between the south coast rivals.

We start with a game that took place 16 years ago but which retains a regular place in the record books.

July 2004, Hove

Dimi Mascarenhas bagged the first ever T20 hat-trick in a low-scoring thriller.

James Vince hits out during his T20 innings against Sussex in  June 2011. Pic: Michael JonesJames Vince hits out during his T20 innings against Sussex in  June 2011. Pic: Michael Jones
James Vince hits out during his T20 innings against Sussex in June 2011. Pic: Michael Jones
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In only the second year of the shortest format, Mascarenhas dismissed Mark Davis, Mushtaq Ahmed and Jason Lewry with successive balls.

The all-rounder finished with 5-14 - still Hampshire’s best ever T20 figures - as the hosts were routed for just 67.

Mascarenhas’ achievement remains the only hat-trick ever taken in any of the county’s 207 T20 matches.

And Sussex’s score is also still the lowest team total ever recorded against Hampshire in the tournament.

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James Bruce (2-16 off four overs) and Chris Tremlett (2-15 off three) had earlier reduced Sussex to 10-4. They dipped to 51-9 before Chris Adams (38no) spared his side even more embarrassment.

Hampshire made hard work of their run chase, crashing to 16-4 with James Kirtley taking 2-8 off his four overs). At 54-7 they were still in danger but Tremlett smashed a six in his unbeaten 12 off six balls and Hampshire won by three wickets.

July 2006, Ageas Bowl

Two years on and Mascarenhas delivered another superb spell to give Hampshire victory.

After the hosts had posted just 112-5, Mascarenhas bagged 4-23 off four overs as Sussex were restricted to 91-9 off their 20 overs.

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Australian overseas player Dom Thornely top scored with 37, while Yasar Arafar took 2-6 in three economical overs.

Former Sussex seamer Billy Taylor claimed 2-9 off four overs in reply, including the key wickets of top order pair Richard Montgomerie and skipper Chris Adams before Mascarenhas went to work on the tail.

July 2007, Hove

England batsman Luke Wright fell just two short of a century as Sussex thrashed their neighbours by 73 runs.

Wright blasted nine fours and six six fours in his 48-ball 98 as the hosts powered their way to 205-5.

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James Kirtley took 4-22 as Hampshire, 72-2 at one stage, ended on 132-8.

It remains the fourth highest defeat by a margin of runs in Hampshire’s T20 history.

June 2008, Hove

West Indian Dwayne Smith lashed a rapid 72 - but Hampshire still chased over 200 to win a last-ball thriller.

Smith struck six sixes and four fours in a brutal 27-ball assault as Sussex posted 204-6 - Billy Taylor recorded 1-55 off his four overs.

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Openers Michael Lumb (36) and Ian Harvey (29) gave the visitors a good start in reply before No 3 Michael Carberry lashed 58 off 29 balls.

Sean Ervine took Hampshire across the finishing line with an unbeaten 32 off 20 balls as his side won by six wickets off the final delivery.

June 2011, Ageas Bowl

Spinners Shahid Afridi and Imran Tahir shared six wickets as Sussex were dismissed for just 91.

Pakistan all-rounder Afridi bagged 3-10 off three overs and Tahir claimed 3-13 off four overs, including a rare maiden. In all, the pair took 6-23 in 42 balls.

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Hampshire had earlier posted just 126-8, despite Afridi (29) and Jimmy Adams (26) helping them reach 49-1 off just 4.2 overs.

July 2011, Hove

A few weeks later, Hampshire completed the double with what remains the county’s biggest win by runs in T20 history.

James Vince hit six sixes in a 49-ball unbeaten 85 as the visitors closed on 193-2.

Dimi Mascarenhas and Danny Briggs then combined to skittle Sussex for just 81 - Hampshire winning by 112 runs.

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Mascarenhas took 3-20 off four overs - his victims being top order trio Chris Nash, Matt Prior and Murray Goodwin - before Briggs cleaned up the tail with 4-17 in 19 balls.

July 2014, Ageas Bowl

Luke Wright compiled the first T20 century ever recorded against Hampshire - and still finished on the losing side.

The opening batsman struck an unbeaten 116 out of his side’s 171-8 - a remarkable 67.8 per cent of the total runs. Only one other batsman, Chris Nash (28), made double figures.

Wright’s 66-ball epic remains the highest T20 innings against Hampshire, with three other batsmen having reached a century against them since.

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The hosts won by seven runs having earlier posted 177-3 with Michael Carberry smashing five sixes and five fours in his unbeaten 87 off 63 balls. Jimmy Adams weighed in with 52 off 34 balls.

July 2015, Hove

James Vince struck Hampshire’s highest T20 innings against Sussex in a run-fest on the south coast.

Vince hit 11 fours and a six in his 62-ball undefeated 90 as Hampshire posted 204-3 - Adam Wheater swatting 51 off 27 balls.

This was the season Vince struck 710 T20 runs - the highest number by any Hampshire batsman in one tournament.

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Chris Nash belted 88 off 56 balls in reply with Sussex 166.3 after 16.2 overs when he was dismissed.

Former Hampshire batsman George Bailey kept the hosts in touch with a 21-ball 33, but in the end Sussex could only manage 200-6.

In all, 404 runs for the loss of nine wickets - not a bad day’s entertainment!

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