Hampshire Hawks have lost their third consecutive Norwich Union League match, going down to Lancashire Lightning by 16 runs in a thrilling chase. Stuart Law's 66 proved to be invaluable for the visitors as his side were skittled out for 163. Despite Neil Johnson's blistering start, Hampshire Hawks ran out of ammunition as Kyle Hogg returned figures of four for 20 from his eight overs to seal the victory.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Lightning probably wished they had not done so after losing Glenn Chapple and David Byas with the score on only 20. The latter was cleanly bowled by Alan Mullally without scoring. Law joined Mark Chilton at the crease and together they put on a valuable 30 for the third wicket before two more dismissals. Chilton was superbly caught by wicket-keeper Nick Pothas after attempting to cut Dimitri Mascarenhas when the ball was too close to him and Neil Fairbrother's run of bad form continued as he went for his second consecutive duck in the competition.

With the score at 55 for four, the Hawks would have been hoping to wrap up the innings only for Graham Lloyd with 25 and Law to add an important 47 for the fifth wicket. By this time Lightning had begun to regain some composure and would have had hopes of a respectable total, even though the ball was still doing plenty for the seamers.

Then Will Kendall caught Lloyd off the bowling of Shaun Udal and Warren Hegg became the second Lancashire batsman to be dismissed without a score to his name.

Gary Yates came in at the fall of the sixth wicket and his running between the wickets was energetic as he collected 17 priceless runs. Johnson claimed his second and third wickets of the match after seeing Yates and Law give chances to Derek Kenway and Robin Smith respectively.

Lancashire were dismissed for 163 after Kyle Hogg was deceived by Mullally's slower ball and he was caught by Giles White diving forward in the covers. Peter Martin's resilient ten came to an end when he gave a regulation catch to the keeper.

Johnson began brightly, despatching Chapple to the boundary twice in an over. The first found its way to the advertising board and the latter into the stand, much to the enjoyment of the crowd. The home side's batting was to go the way of their visitors, however, losing vital wickets at regular intervals.

Johnson was caught at third man as he jumped off the ground to make contact with a ball that surely bounced high enough to be called a no ball. He was back in the pavilion with 27 to his name, only to be joined by Kenway (20) and Smith (3) after 25 minutes. At 59 for three the game was firmly in the balance and when Giles White was out ten runs later, Lightning shifted up a gear.

John Francis and Pothas had started a revival only for them both to head back to the dressing room within the space of a couple of balls. Chilton claimed the former but it was the re-introduction of Chapple that really spurred Lancashire on. With his first ball back, he had bagged the wicket of Francis for a useful 25.

After that Hampshire never looked like winning. John Wood who had already helped to dismiss three batsmen added another to his tally. Kendall looking to get his side back into the game saw his shot fall in the hands of Byas at slip. It was Hogg's bowling performance of four for 20 that won his side the match. His third wicket was yet another catch but his fourth saw Chris Tremlett lose his stumps for just five.

Enter Mullally. His last wicket partnership with Udal was entertaining but in vain. They added 26 and had caused one or two nervous glances at the scoreboard before Mullally was run out by a direct throw from Chilton with the score on 147 and the Red Rose county could leave the Rose Bowl with a victory to savour.

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