CHELMSFORD (Hampshire won toss): Match abandoned. Essex Eagles (1pt), Hampshire Hawks (1)
FINE wicketkeeping by James Foster and disciplined bowling kept Hampshire Hawks to 151 for nine, but the Essex Eagles reply was prevented when the skies turned black between innings.
Foster made a catch and two stumpings and looked bright, as did most of the Essex bowlers early in their spells. Hampshire lost their openers, Nic Pothas and Sean Ervine, for three runs but Mitchell Stokes and Greg Lamb, who ended with 67 from 54 balls, added 42 before Danish Kaneria made Stokes edge behind off his first ball. The leg spinner also took a wicket with the first ball of his second spell.
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SHOW-STOPPER: A swat by Stokes, on his second appearance for Hampshire, over extra cover and into a residential estate for six.
SHOW-DOWNER: Essex’s mascot, Eddie the Eagle, being forced to dance for the crowd in the torrential downpour.