Thomson reaps a good harvest

Press, 14 May 1981, Page 11

Thomson reaps a good harvest

NZPA-Reuter London Australia's Jeff Thomson took seven wickets for 22 runs and the South African, Clive Rice, claimed six for 22 in the first series of limited-over Benson and Hedges Cricket Cup matches at the weekend.

Rice helped Nottinghamshire beat the holders, Northamptonshire bv one wicket, but Thomson's brilliant bowling burst for Middlesex failed to save it from losing by one wicket to Hampshire, which had not won a Benson and Hedges Cup match since 1978. Keith Stevenson struck Hampshire's winning run in the final over of the innings as the match ended in gathering dusk. Hampshire ended on 176 for nine; in reply to the Middlesex score of 176 all'out.

The format of the competition, with teams grouped in regional leagues, means that Northamptonshire remains in contention for

the trophy in spite of its defeat byNotts, but its chances are greatly reduced.

Rice bowled the last three batsmen as Northamptonshire was dismissed for 152 with seven balls of its 55 overs left, but Richard Hadlee struck the telling blow for Nottinghamshire, having Allan Lamb caught behind for 54 just when the South African looked set. Nottinghamshire won with three balls left, Hadlee steering two fours in the last over to take the score to 155 for nine. Essex, which won the cup in 1979. slumped to an 82-run defeat, making, only 124 in reply to Glamorgan's 206 for nine, which included a hard-hit 67 by Javad Miandad. Chris Balderstone scored 113 not out with nine fours to boost Leicestershire to a 61-run win over Gloucestershire, which made 195 for seven.