No happy homecoming for Hampshire or skipper Vince as Sussex complete T20 Blast double at The Ageas Bowl

It was the first game back at their home ground which has been used for international cricket so far this summer.

At one stage Hampshire looked on course to win chasing 159 for five, but they faded in the second part of their innings.

It was also a disappointing return for Hampshire captain James Vince, making his first appearance of the season due to first international commitments and then the birth of his second child.

Hampshire started strongly after winning the toss and putting the visitors into bat.

Sussex struggled, particularly against Chris Wood and Ian Holland, and didn't help their cause with a run out at the end of the first over.

There was an awful mix-up between Calum MacLeod and his captain Luke Wright with the former sacrificing his wicket.

Delroy Rawlings fell to a superb catch, running back over his shoulder, by Sam Northeast off of Holland in the third over.

The Sharks were up against it but Wright and Ravi Bopara got them to 39 for 2 at the end of the power play.

Leg spinners Mason Crane and debutant Calvin Harrison kept the pressure on with tidy spells.

Harrison - who played a handful of games for Hampshire 2nds in 2019 - celebrated his first wicket for the county in the tenth over, Ravi Bopara falling to a sharp catch from Vince.

At the halfway stage Hampshire remained in control, restricting the Sharks to 60 for 3.

Once Wright was joined at the wicket by David Wiese, however, Sussex began to take the fight back to the hosts.

Their 50 partnership came in just over five overs courtesy of some powerful hitting.

Harrison, in particular, received some heavy punishment in his final over which went for 18 runs.

His third ball was hammered straight back over his head for six by Wiese before Wright hit consecutive boundaries off the final two balls.

Wiese (41 off 26 balls) finally departed, caught by Joe Weatherley off the bowling of Wood, but not before playing a big part in Sussex posting a competitive score.

Once again Wright proved the scourge of Hampshire with an impressive 83 off 59 balls as his side reached 159 for five.

At the end of last month the former England batsman had top scored with 82 in his side’s Blast win against Hampshire at Hove.

Vince (10) went early in Hampshire's reply, chipping up an easy catch off the bowling of his former Hampshire colleague Danny Briggs.

Tom Alsop and Northeast guided Hampshire to 43 for one at the end of the power play.

Northeast (17) chopped a skidding Will Beer delivery onto his stumps but Alsop and Joe Weatherley (25) kept the home side ticking along nicely.

Hampshire still had work to do though at 96 for 3 in the 13th over after Alsop (43 off 37 balls) was caught misjudging a Tymal Mills slower ball.

It was Hampshire's turn to come under pressure, requiring 44 off the final four overs and needing to take risks.

In the end, it proved a comfortable win for the visitors who moved up to second in the South table.

Hampshire remain second bottom with just one win, three defeats and an abandonment from their five games.

They are back in T20 action against Middlesex at Lord’s on Saturday.