An inspired century from skipper Will Kendall allowed the Hawks to leapfrog the Crusaders in the Norwich Union League Division Two basement battle, as he led the home side to a 24-run victory.

However, at a precarious 6-3, it looked like another day of gloom for Hampshire as Jason Laney (0) was followed by a careless run-out which saw Neil Johnson also removed without scoring. And when James Adams attempted pull ended up knocking his middle stump out, the crowd must have been thinking is was going to be another of those days.

But they had not considered Kendall's heroics, mixing his natural correct posture with some tremendous hits as reached his first-ever limited overs century and stretched it to an undefeated 110 (118 balls, 10 fours and a six) when the overs ran out.

He, alongside Shaun Udal, who was promoted up the order when John Francis (33) drilled the ball back to bowler Thos Hunt, added a blistering 103 for the fifth wicket as Udal smashed 58 from 55 balls including two monsterous sixes and three fours.

From looking down the barrel at an early finish, Hampshire had recovered to record 241-7 in their 45 overs.

Middlesex's reply also faltered early on with Simon Cook and Robin Weston back in the pavilion with just 12 on the board. However, Ben Hutton, the grandson of famous England cricketing legend Len, was solely responsible for getting the innings back on track.

His 63 (99 balls) was the mainstay of the innings, but his dismissal, shortly after stand-in captain Owais Shah's looked like securing the end of the challenge.

Ed Joyce, in great form at present was joined by James Dalrymple and they recorded an 89-run stand which looked like taking the visitors close.

But when the latter charged Udal and was bowled and Joyce run-out backing up in quick succession, the rate was beyond the Crusaders, giving Hampshire a much needed victory, which moves them to seventh in the table - a place ahead of the beaten opponents.

© Hampshire Cricket