All-rounder James Fuller’s career best century helps Hampshire 2nds thrash a combined Kent/Sussex 2nds

Replying to a Kent/Sussex total of 304, Hampshire lurched to 112-6 with Cameron Steel, a new loan signing from Durham, hitting 35.

Fuller, batting at No 7, turned the tide with a superb 149 off 175 deliveries.

The South African-born all-rounder dominated century stands of 119 for the seventh wicket with Safwaan Imtiaz (57) and 136 for the eighth wicket with Keith Barker (55) to help Hampshire post 391. It was Barker’s first game back after undergoing knee surgery last summer.

Fuller hit 15 fours and five sixes in posting the highest of his three 2nd XI centuries - beating his previous career best of 147 not out for Middlesex 2nds against Somerset three years ago.

Fast bowler Scott Currie, who shared six Kent/Sussex first innings wickets with Felix Organ, and Ajeet Dale linked up to rush the combined side out for 99.

That left Hampshire needing just 16 runs to clinch a ten-wicket victory.

Score: Kent/Sussex II 304 (Qadri 75, Muyeye 68, Orr 49, Currie 3-38, Organ 3-64) and 99 (Gilchrist 34, Currie 4-19, Dale 3-30). Hampshire II 391 (Fuller 149, Imtiaz 53, Barker 55, Steel 35, O’Riordan 3-54) and 16-0. Hampshire II won by ten wickets.

Steel, who has arrived at Hampshire on a two-month loan, had previously hit 134 on his debut for the 2nds in a four-day friendly against Surrey 2nds at Guildford.

The USA-born right-handed batsman, who has played 40 first class games for Durham, hit 25 boundaries in a 200-ball innings against an attack including England World Cup winner Liam Plunkett.

Basingstoke-born Toby Albert hit 125 as Hampshire rattled up 473 with wicket-keeper Imtiaz hitting 65.

Imtiaz, 21, is another new arrival at The Ageas Bowl this year, having previously played 2nd XI cricket for Essex, Kent, Surrey, Northants, Durham, Worcestershire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

He is a promising batsman, having scored six hundreds for MCC Young Cricketers against first class county 2nd XIs between 2016-19.