Hampshire beat Sussex by 4 wickets (with 1 ball remaining) – T20 Blast Match Report
Hampshire won by 4 wickets (with 1 ball remaining) in the 104th match of 115 in the T20 Blast 2026 at County Ground, Hove. Hilton Cartwright produced a devastating 70 off just 31 balls – striking at 226 with 2 fours and 7 sixes – to guide Hampshire home in a pulsating finish. The win lifts Hampshire to 2nd (8W 4L, 32pts) while Sussex remain rooted to 17th (3W 9L, 12pts) with their playoff hopes all but extinguished.
Sussex Post 186 – Hughes Leads the Charge
Hampshire won the toss and elected to bowl, but Sussex’s batting lineup made them work hard. Harrison Ward fell early for 9 at 17/1 in the opening over, but Daniel Hughes took charge with a commanding 55 off 32 balls (10 fours, strike rate 172). Hughes built the platform Sussex needed, putting on a 65-run stand with George Thomas (28 off 20, 2 fours, 1 six) before falling at 82/2 in the 8th over.
Jack Leaning (19 off 14) and Tom Alsop (26 off 21, 1 four, 1 six) kept the momentum going, but the innings lacked the explosive finish needed. Charlie Tear provided late fireworks with 40 off 25 (1 four, 4 sixes, strike rate 160), remaining unbeaten to push Sussex to 186 for 5.
Sonny Baker was Hampshire’s leading bowler with 2/38 from 4 overs, while Scott Currie took 2/39 from 4. Delano Potgieter chipped in with 1/22 from 3 overs as Hampshire kept Sussex to a gettable total.
Hampshire’s Thrilling Chase – Cartwright Seals It
Hampshire’s chase began shakily. Toby Albert fell for 5 at 9/1 in the opening over, and James Vince managed just 9 at 35/2 in the 4th over. Joe Weatherley (33 off 20, 4 fours, 1 six, strike rate 165) steadied the ship with a brisk 25-run stand, but fell to a hit wicket at 60/3 in the 7th over.
Liam Dawson departed for 6 at 49/4 in the 6th over, leaving Hampshire at 60/4 and needing 127 off 80 balls. Ben Mayes (55 off 36, 5 fours, 2 sixes, strike rate 153) and Delano Potgieter (2 off 2) briefly steadied the ship, but Potgieter fell at 61/5 in the 7th over.
Enter Cartwright. The Hampshire batter took the attack to Sussex with ruthless efficiency, smashing 70 off 31 balls at a strike rate of 226 – 7 sixes and 2 fours in a masterclass of T20 batting. His 113-run partnership with Mayes swung the match decisively, taking Hampshire from 61/5 to 173/6 in the 17th over. Cartwright fell at 173/6 in the 17th over, but James Fuller (9 off 8) and Mayes (unbeaten on 55) saw Hampshire home with just 1 ball remaining.
Jack Carson was Sussex’s standout bowler with 3/43 from 3.5 overs, but his efforts were undone by Cartwright’s pyrotechnics. Tymal Mills (1/32 from 4), Tom Price (1/32 from 4) and Danny Briggs (1/42 from 4) all took a wicket but could not stem the flow.
Statz MVP: Hilton Cartwright (Statz Rating: 102.42)
Hilton Cartwright earns the Statz MVP award with a Statz Rating of 102.42. His 70 off 31 balls at a strike rate of 226 – featuring 7 sixes and 2 fours – was the decisive blow in Hampshire’s one-ball escape. Cartwright’s impact in match context was immense, transforming a precarious 61/5 into a winning position and delivering when it mattered most. No official Man of the Match was awarded.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Hilton Cartwright (HAM) – Statz Rating: 102.42 | 70 off 31 (SR 226, 7 sixes) – Explosive match-winning display in a thrilling chase.
- Daniel Hughes (SUS) – Statz Rating: 69.58 | 55 off 32 (SR 172, 10 fours) – Commanding innings that set Sussex’s platform.
- Ben Mayes (HAM) – Statz Rating: 56.27 | 55 off 36 (SR 153, 5 fours, 2 sixes) – Steady hand in Hampshire’s chase, remained unbeaten.
- Charlie Tear (SUS) – Statz Rating: 51.41 | 40 off 25 (SR 160, 4 sixes) – Late-order fireworks that gave Sussex late momentum.
- Sonny Baker (HAM) – Statz Rating: 50.77 | 2/38 from 4 overs – Hampshire’s leading bowler on the night.
Turning Point
The match turned decisively when Hilton Cartwright came to the crease at 61/5 in the 7th over. Hampshire were staring down the barrel at that stage, needing 127 off 80 balls with the top order dismantled. Cartwright’s explosive 70 off 31 – particularly his 7 sixes – shifted momentum entirely. His partnership with Ben Mayes added 113 runs and took Hampshire from near-certain defeat to the brink of victory, leaving just 17 runs needed off the final 3 overs.
Match Context
This was the 104th match of 115 in the T20 Blast 2026 group stage. Hampshire (2nd, 8W 4L, 32pts) cement their position in the playoff frame with a dramatic away victory. Sussex (17th, 3W 9L, 12pts) remain adrift at the bottom, their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. See the full scorecard on Statz for the complete breakdown, or explore Hampshire’s performance metrics in detail.
