LONDON – Former Australia batsman Simon Katich scored an unbeaten 47 as Hampshire beat south coast rivals Sussex by eight wickets in the semi-finals of English county cricket’s 40-over competition on Saturday.
Victory kept Hampshire on course for a one-day double following their victory over Yorkshire in the domestic Twenty20 final in Cardiff last weekend.
Hampshire will face Warwickshire in the Lord’s final on September 15 after the Midlands county saw off Lancashire by 23 runs in Manchester on Saturday.
Luke Wright made a superb 122 for Sussex at Hove but could not prevent the hosts collapsing from 195 for three to 199 for eight as Zimbabwe’s Sean Ervine took three for 36 and promising spinner Danny Briggs, a member of England’s World Twenty20 squad, two for 32.
Fifties from Michael Carberry and James Vince saw Hampshire’s reply get off to a strong start and any hope of a Sussex recovery was stifled by Katich, who faced 60 balls with four fours, and Jimmy Adams (44 not out).
