LONDON, CMC – Hampshire, inspired another inspired spell from discarded speedster Fidel Edwards, beat Nottinghamshire by eight wickets yesterday to further boost their hopes of surviving the drop to Division Two of the English County Championship.
Chasing 200 for victory at Trent Bridge, the visitors coasted to their target behind half-centuries from openers Michael Carberry (84 not out) and Jimmy Adams (70).
Resuming the final day on 89 without loss, Hampshire were propelled as Carberry and Adams extended their first wicket stand to 129.
Edwards had earlier done the damage on Thursday, claiming four for 57 from 17 overs to send Notts crumbling to 185 all out in their second innings.
Zimbabwean opener Brendan Taylor top-scored with 90 but the hosts collapsed from 127 for two, to lose their last eight wickets for 58 runs.
Edwards, who claimed six wickets in the first innings, finished with a match haul of ten for 145.
The 33-year-old, who finished the season with 45 wickets, came in for praise from captain James Vince.
“Fidel Edwards has been outstanding. On a flat pitch like this one having someone like him who can get wickets makes a big difference,” Vince said.
If Sussex lost their match to Yorkshire yesterday, Hampshire will retain their Division One status.
At New Road, West Indies pacer Shannon Gabriel played a key role as Worcestershire beat Middlesex by an innings and 128 runs inside three days.
Gabriel followed up his first innings five-wicket haul with two for 40, an effort that saw Middlesex bundled out for 205 in their second innings.
