The Benson and Hedges Cup holders suffered their second defeat in four days yesterday, thus making their chances of keeping the gold chalice in perpetuity very slim indeed. The margin, to Hampshire, was only one run. It may as well have been fifty runs. A victory was all that mattered. But Surrey lost, which means they now need to win their last three group games comfortably, and hope that the other five teams co-operate, to qualify for the quarter-finals in three week’s time.

The visitors owed their victory to Shaun Udal, who picked up only his second B&H gold award in fourteen seasons on the Hampshire staff. His four for 36 included the scalps of Ramprakash, Stewart, Brown and Shahid. But equally important in the final analysis was Neil Johnson’s 46 off 35 balls at the start of proceedings. Thanks to him the visitors had a hundred on the board as early as the fourteenth over.

The Zimbabwean’s innings included nine fours, all of them gems, none more so than when he on-drove Ed Giddins effortlessly in over number ten. Surrey were certainly glad to see the back of the left-hander - who eventually went at backward point - as they were James Hamblin, whose impulsive 21 included a four off the first delivery of the day.

At one stage Hampshire were well on course for their highest total against Surrey in the Benson and Hedges Cup, which they set in 1996. But, instead, the visitors were forced into their shell by an impressive spell of two for 21 off eight overs from Azhar Mahmood.

Bowling from the Pavilion End, the all-rounder accounted for John Crawley, caught behind off an irresponsible slash, and Derek Kenway (40 off 45 balls) who was brilliantly held by Ian Salisbury running in from mid-off to claim the leading edge. The leg-spinner added immediately to Hampshire’s problems by taking two wickets in three balls, both of them lbw, to see the back of Will Kendall and Nic Pothas for no score.

The visitors waited until the 31st over to bring up the 150 and went ten overs without hitting a boundary at one stage until Robin Smith ended the hiatus with a trademark cut off of Salisbury. Smith dished out further punishment two overs later when he struck fourteen in three deliveries off the former Sussex man on his way to becoming the day’s top scorer.

Chasing a target of 244 to win Mark Butcher was far from happy when adjudged caught behind in the third over of Surrey’s reply. Mind you, Alan Mullally deserved some reward for a taxing six-over opening spell, which ended with the home side 45 runs behind at the same stage.

The comparison remained there or thereabouts for some time as the crowd looked for someone to step forward and take the game by the scruff of the neck. Alec Stewart seemed capable when he reached his third fifty of the season. In partnership with Mark Ramprakash he added 70 in seventeen overs for the second wicket, until the latter went aiming to sweep Udal’s fourth ball.

Stewart was out half an hour later to the first delivery of the 30th over, lbw aiming to leg. Alistair Brown took charge momentarily, but then gambled on a reverse sweep, which Robin Smith just managed to get to.

Ultimately Surrey’s hopes rested on Azhar who put in a late challenge for the man of the match award by clubbing 50 off 37 balls, including a pulled six to take the home side past 200 and a straight driven maximum off Kendall to reach his own half-century.

Surrey needed 17 runs off the last two overs when the Pakistani inexplicably ran himself out, a task that proved to be marginally outside their compass.

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