Dawson Masterclass Drives Hampshire to Fourth Win as Sussex Slump Continues

Hampshire won by 29 runs in the 35th match of 112 in the T20 Blast 2026 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton. Sussex won the toss and elected to bowl, but Liam Dawson had other ideas – smashing 52 off 35 and then taking 3/20 to destroy the visitors’ chase. It was a comprehensive display from Hampshire, who moved to 2nd in the standings on 16 points with a fourth win from five matches. For Sussex, a third defeat in four games leaves them down in 14th on just 4 points.

First Innings – Hampshire 173/6 (20 overs)

Hampshire’s innings got off to a horrible start. Toby Albert was clean bowled for 1 off 5 balls with just 2 on the board in the first over, and James Vince followed shortly after – caught for 8 off 5 with the score on 10 in the second over.

Joe Weatherley (21 off 18) and Tom Prest (5 off 8) tried to rebuild, but both fell with the score still in the 30s and 40s. At 42/4 after 6.4 overs, Hampshire were in deep trouble.

Enter Dawson. The experienced all-rounder took the game by the scruff of the neck, hammering 52 off 35 balls with 6 fours and a six at a strike rate of 149. He put on a crucial partnership with Tristan Stubbs (36 off 23, three fours and two sixes, SR 157) that rescued Hampshire from their early collapse. Between them they lifted the score from 42/4 to 136/6.

The lower order then provided a fantastic finish. Hilton Cartwright (24* off 17, SR 141) and James Fuller (19* off 9, two sixes, SR 211) added an unbroken 37 off the final overs to push Hampshire to 173/6 – a total that looked highly unlikely at 10/2.

For Sussex’s bowlers, Tymal Mills was the pick with 2/26 from 4 overs (economy 6.50). James Coles (1/29), Danny Briggs (1/28), Danny Lamb (1/39) and Tom Price (1/10 from 1 over) all chipped in, but 173 was always going to be a challenging target.

Second Innings – Sussex 144 all out (17.3 overs)

Sussex’s reply started explosively through Harrison Ward (40 off 21, four fours and three sixes, SR 190) and Daniel Hughes (31 off 22, two fours and two sixes). The pair raced to 67/0 inside six overs and looked to be making the chase comfortable.

Ward fell LBW at 67/1 in the 6th over, and Dawson then turned the match on its head. Hughes followed at 78/2 in the 8th over, and Coles went immediately after for 2 at 78/3 – the collapse was on. Tom Alsop made just 2 off 8 (87/4, 10.4 overs), and Jack Leaning was stumped for 2 off Dawson at 101/6 in the 13th over.

John Simpson (19 off 14) offered brief resistance, but from 67/0 Sussex crashed to 108/7 in the 15th over. Dawson finished with the outstanding figures of 3/20 from 4 overs at an economy of 5.00 to go with his batting heroics. Chris Wood (2/20 from 4 overs, economy 5.00) was excellent at the other end, while Fuller (2/37) and Manny Lumsden (2/26 from 3.3 overs) mopped up the tail. Henry Crocombe swung for 16 off 7 (SR 229) but was the last man out bowled, Sussex dismissed for 144 in 17.3 overs.

Statz MVP – Liam Dawson (163.6)

Liam Dawson produced one of the finest all-round performances of the T20 Blast so far, earning a Statz Match Impact rating of 163.6 – the highest in the tournament this season. The formula, which calculates impact based on match context, rewarded his extraordinary double contribution: 52 off 35 with the bat when Hampshire were in deep trouble at 42/4, followed by 3/20 with the ball to break the back of Sussex’s chase. There was no official Man of the Match awarded for this fixture, but there is no debate about who ran this game.

Top 5 Statz Ratings

1. Liam Dawson (HAM) – 163.6 – Scored 52 off 35 to rescue Hampshire from 42/4, then took 3/20 to dismantle Sussex’s chase. A complete match-winning all-round display.
2. James Fuller (HAM) – 77.87 – Smashed 19* off 9 balls (two sixes) to boost the first innings total, then took 2/37 with the ball.
3. Tymal Mills (SUS) – 74.37 – Best of Sussex’s bowlers with 2/26 from 4 overs at 6.50, but it was not enough to contain Hampshire’s middle order.
4. Harrison Ward (SUS) – 73.45 – Blazed 40 off 21 (SR 190) to put Sussex in the driving seat at 67/0 before falling LBW to trigger the collapse.
5. Chris Wood (HAM) – 66.4 – Economical 2/20 from 4 overs at just 5.00, providing excellent support from the other end as Dawson ran through Sussex.

Turning Point

Harrison Ward’s dismissal LBW in the 6th over with the score on 67/0 was the moment this match flipped. Sussex had been cruising – Ward had smashed 40 off 21 and the required rate was well under control. His departure brought the untested middle order to the crease, and Dawson pounced. From 67/0, Sussex lost 3/11 to slump to 78/3, and the run chase never recovered. Ward was the platform and the momentum – once he went, the innings fell apart.

Match Context

This was the 35th match of 112 in the T20 Blast 2026 Regular Season. Hampshire sit 2nd on 16 points (W4 L1, NRR +0.971), level on points with leaders Northamptonshire but behind on net run rate. Four wins from five is an outstanding start, and the Rose Bowl is proving a fortress.

Sussex, by contrast, are down in 14th on 4 points (W1 L3, NRR -0.498). Three defeats in four matches – with losses to Kent, Middlesex and now Hampshire – has left them with serious work to do if they want to qualify for the knockout stages. Their batting lineup needs to find consistency beyond the powerplay if they are to turn their campaign around.

View the full scorecard on Statz