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Preview Based News

Lord’s hosts one-day showpiece

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 24/07/2009

Hampshire Hawks and Sussex Sharks clash in the Friends Provident Trophy final at Lord’s this weekend, with the biggest one-day prize in English cricket on the line.

Hants have won this competition twice in the past, most recently in 2005, while online betting favourites Sussex have triumphed five times, the last coming three years ago.

Who will taste victory in the FP Trophy final? Latest Cricket Betting

Hampshire’s FP Trophy Group A campaign started with a 53-run defeat by Worcestershire at the Rose Bowl and they would also suffer a reverse in the return fixture at New Road, but they won five of their other six fixtures, with a washout in Ireland their only other setback.

In the quarter-finals Hants were handed a home tie with Middlesex and opening pair Michael Lumb and Jimmy Adams did much to ensure victory.

The duo put on 156 for the first wicket, with Lumb making exactly 100, while Adams hit a run-a-ball 77 to help Hants reach 310-4 from their 50 overs.

Middlesex replied with 266 all out, losing by a 44-run margin and never really threatening to reach their target.

Hants had to travel north to Old Trafford for their semi-final clash with Lancashire and Lumb (76) and Adams (78) were again the stars, putting on 159 for the first wicket as the visitors eventually reached 271 all out.

Lancs failed to threaten that target and were all out for 207 to leave Hants winners by 64 runs.

Sussex’s progress was not quite so convincing, as they finished as runners-up to Gloucestershire in Group C.

The Sharks lost three times during the group stages, but having made the last eight, they then hit top form.

Somerset were thrashed by six wickets in the quarter-finals, with Sussex reaching 288-4 in the final over at Taunton thanks largely to 74 from Ed Joyce, 93 from Murray Goodwin and an unbeaten 57 from skipper Mike Yardy.

In the semi-finals Sussex faced Gloucestershire again and this time around they ran out winner by 34 runs in Hove in a high-scoring encounter.

A magnificent 146 from Joyce led Sussex to 326-7 from 50 overs, but Gloucs pushed the Sharks all the way before being dismissed for 292 in the 48th over of their reply.

Sussex are hoping to be boosted by having England wicketkeeper Matt Prior available for selection, with coach Mark Robinson saying: “We understand Matt is free to play.

“England players are meant to be released for the final and we have heard nothing to the contrary.

“It is good news because Matt is a quality player and will give us another explosive batsman at the top of the order.”

Hampshire are not quit so lucky with their one England star, with batsman Kevin Pietersen sidelined by an Achilles injury which has ruled him out for at least six weeks.

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