Hampshire Hawks pulled off a thrilling run chase to defeat the Northamptonshire Steelbacks and ensure they avoided the wooden spoon.

Rookie John Francis scored a superb 103 not out - his first ton - and Neil Johnson and John Crawley also contributed half-centuries as Hampshire won with three balls to spare.

Earlier Mark Powell and David Sales put on 127 for the second wicket in guiding their team to a very competitive 285 for six.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, the Steelbacks lost Rob White early on before Powell and Sales took over.

With a sublime combination of power and guile, the pair looked to pounce on anything with a bit of width.

Powell was the second batsman to go, adjudged lbw to Lawrence Prittipaul.

Brutal assault

Sales continued his brutal assault but just when he looked set to make a century, he was caught at cover by Will Kendall off James Tomlinson for 93 off 94 balls.

There were useful contributions down the order from Tony Penberthy (44 off 36), Jeff Cook (29 off 34) and Matt Cassar (22 not out off 13).

Hampshire lost skipper Robin Smith early for eight, nicking Carl Greenidge to 'keeper Tobin Bailey, but recovered well.

Johnson was joined by Crawley, and the two experienced internationals set about building a partnership.

Crawley was generally playing the more aggressive cricket and he was first to his half-century before falling lbw next over, padding up to spinner Jason Brown.

Belief

The England man's 52 off 49 balls gave Hampshire some belief though, and Francis joined Johnson to carry on where Crawley had left off.

Johnson passed his 50 as the pair shared a quickfire half-century stand, but the Zimbabwean gave his wicket away when he paddled Penberthy straight to Cassar at midwicket.

But Francis did not let Johnson's departure hinder his assault.

After smashing Penberthy for another six, Northamptonshire were forced to push the field back, but Francis and Will Kendall responded well.

Kendall was bowled by Cook for 31 in the penultimate over, having seen Francis bring up his century with a single off Greenidge an over before.

Just two were required off the last over, and after Francis had taken a single, Shaun Udal cut the third ball of Greenidge's over for four to seal a thrilling win.

Hampshire: N C Johnson, R A Smith (Capt), J D Francis, L R Prittipaul, W S Kendall, J P Crawley, N Pothas (Wkt), A D Mascarenhas, S D Udal, A D Mullally, J A Tomlinson.

Northamptonshire: M J Powell, R A White, D J G Sales, M E Cassar, J W Cook, A L Penberthy (Capt), G L Brophy, T M B Bailey (Wkt), C G Greenidge, M W H Inness, J F Brown.

Umpires: P Willey and A G T Whitehead