Aiden Markram produced a match-winning performance with bat and ball as Hampshire made it three successive wins to start the defence of their Royal London One-Day Cup title.
Markram’s abilities with the bat earned him a call-up to South Africa’s World Cup squad last week but after pacing Hampshire’s innings with 88 at the top of the order he showed a threat with the ball by claiming three wickets, including England captain Eoin Morgan, with his off-spin to set up a 119-run win at the Ageas Bowl.
Hampshire already appear on course to return to the knockout stages while Middlesex, who had won their opening two games, were left to reflect after Tom Helm’s five for 71 provided the bright spot before being bundled out for 182.
Notts Outlaws moved clear at the top of the North Group with a perfect record of their own after three matches as they swept Warwickshire aside by 118 runs at Edgbaston.
Opener Ben Slater was amongst the runs for the third successive game and converted his graft into a well-deserved century, from 111 balls, as Notts set a target at 301 for nine.
Warwickshire captain Jeetan Patel claimed five for 45 but then saw his top-order fold to be 22 for four which proved beyond recovery despite half-centuries from Liam Banks and Alex Thomson.
Last season’s finalists Kent face a major battle to get out of their group after suffering a fourth successive defeat, by six wickets to Gloucestershire at Bristol.
Gareth Roderick did the damage as he reached his second List A century as Gloucestershire chased down 282 for eight with 19 balls to spare.
Opener Zak Crawley further enhanced his growing reputation with 85 while Joe Denly, part of England’s provisional World Cup squad, added 56 for the injury-hit visitors.
Surrey overcame their own injury concerns to overcome Essex by 86 runs and bank a first win of the campaign at The Kia Oval.
Jason Roy, Rikki Clarke and Ollie Pope were all left needing treatment at various stages before England quick Liam Plunkett ended the contest with a quickfire strike in his figures of four for 50.
Former South Africa quick Morne Morkel reminded of his menace with the new ball as he returned four for 23 after Ben Foakes struck 82 from 88 balls against his former county to top score in the hosts’ 278 for eight.
