T20 Blast: James Coles stars as Sussex Sharks defeat Hampshire Hawks

James Coles starred with bat and ball as Sussex defeated Hampshire in the south coast derby to strengthen their chances of securing a T20 Blast quarter-final spot.

Coles top-scored with 46 from 33 balls in the Sharks’ formidable total of 200-7 at Hove before registering career-best T20 figures of 4-34 with his left-arm spin.

Hampshire, whose hopes of chasing down the target were hindered by two messy run-outs, soon slid behind the required run-rate and were bowled out for 178 with five balls unused.

Sussex stay second in the South Group table but are now just two points behind leaders Surrey, while the Hawks – who have not won in six games – remain in seventh place, with their qualification prospects fading.

Harrison Ward got the Sharks off to a brisk start after they were put in, thrashing a string of boundaries that included two flat-batted sixes to reach 39 from 20 balls before he steered James Fuller tamely into the hands of mid-on.

Ward’s dismissal paved the way for Tom Clark to build a partnership of 83 from 53 with Coles, who looked poised for a third half-century of the tournament until Liam Dawson had him caught in the deep.