HAMPSHIRE launched a spirited fightback at The County Ground last night after suffering a first-innings nightmare in their PPP County Championship match against Sussex.

With Sussex fast medium bowler James Kirtley wreaking pure havoc, Hampshire crashed out for 76 in just 30.1 overs.

Kirtley's 7-21 was a career best but it was helped by a wretched batting performance by the home side whose lame performance left them 299 runs behind Sussex on the first innings.

It wasn't looking much better when they followed on. Both openers, Jason Laney (20) and Derek Kenway (4) had gone before there were 50 runs on the board, and it called for a true's captain's innings from Robin Smith. And with the chips down, The Judge delivered, particularly with Hampshire desperate for a win to ensure a leading- nine finish this season which would guarantee a place in the top-flight of Championship cricket next year.

Smith hit an aggressive and inspirational 66. It clearly helped to fire up Will Kendall who followed his captain's example and carried on the good work when Smith was out. At the end of play Kendall was still defiantly at the crease on 85 and Sussex were still some way from their fifth championship victory of the season.

Earlier the swing Kirtley produced from an inspired spell of bowling bemused Hampshire, with a trio of their batsmen offering catches in front of the stumps. In an extraordinary spell of five overs, the Sussex bowler had mopped up five wickets for five runs.

According to reports there was no movement off the pitch which made Kirtley's performance, or Hampshire's submission - whichever way you looked at it - even more astonishing.

Hampshire were clearly stung and Laney and Kenway opened the follow-on in more workmanlike fashion until Laney was coaxed by Justin Bates into offering a chance to long on and Kenway fell to a catch at mid-wicket.

Hampshire were staring defeat in the face but Smith and Kendall combined in a stand of 107. Smith hit 12 fours before slicing a catch to gully. Kendall then received solid support from Giles White. They had put on 94 and Hampshire were 250-3, 49 runs behind, at stumps.

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