HAMPSHIRE narrowly failed to reach the quarter-finals of the NCA 50-plus County Championship in 1994, despite beating Middlesex and a Kent side including former England Test opener, the late Brian Luckhurst.
Mike Molden hit an unbeaten 87 in the opening seven-wicket defeat by Sussex, but three wickets apiece by Gosport Borough pair Ray Porter and the late Jim Stares set up a victory over Middlesex (147). Malcolm Stretton top scored with 60 in the 19-riun defeat by Essex.
Arguably the highspot of that 1994 season was a flamboyant century by Lymington's Tony Wharton, who provided a galaxy of textbook shots on his way to an undefeated 109 as Hampshire totalled 230-4 to outscore Kent, who plunged to 115 all out, the Porter/Stares combo sharing eight of the scalps.
But all hopes of a last eight spot ended with a five-wicket defeat by Surrey in the final group match.
Hampshire: (from left) Brian Loveridge, Jan Bridle, Malcolm Stretton, Don Whitlock, Wilf Rolf (scorer), John Rickard, Jim Stares, Mike Molden. Front: Stan Rudder, Barry Wright, Arthur Holt, Tony Wharton, Ray Porter.
Mike Molden hit an unbeaten 87 in the opening seven-wicket defeat by Sussex, but three wickets apiece by Gosport Borough pair Ray Porter and the late Jim Stares set up a victory over Middlesex (147). Malcolm Stretton top scored with 60 in the 19-riun defeat by Essex.
Arguably the highspot of that 1994 season was a flamboyant century by Lymington's Tony Wharton, who provided a galaxy of textbook shots on his way to an undefeated 109 as Hampshire totalled 230-4 to outscore Kent, who plunged to 115 all out, the Porter/Stares combo sharing eight of the scalps.
But all hopes of a last eight spot ended with a five-wicket defeat by Surrey in the final group match.
Hampshire: (from left) Brian Loveridge, Jan Bridle, Malcolm Stretton, Don Whitlock, Wilf Rolf (scorer), John Rickard, Jim Stares, Mike Molden. Front: Stan Rudder, Barry Wright, Arthur Holt, Tony Wharton, Ray Porter.