A first day batting collapse cost Hampshire Young Cricketers the chance of a place in the ECB Under-17 County Championship final.

With Kevin Latouf at the helm, Hampshire were cruising along nicely against Middlesex at 95-2 at the half-way point of the innings.

Drizzle and low cloud cover however turned previously favourable batting conditions into a bowler's paradise - Hampshire losing seven wickets for 76 runs in a torrid spell immediately before and after lunch.

Concentrating hard and defying a painful neck injury, Latouf (78) eased Hampshire to 169-9 before Shanklin's Dave Griffiths (39) added a precious 32 for the last wicket with Matt Hooper.

Hampshire's disappointing 201 appeared a daunting total when Chris Wright (two) and David Wheeler ripped out the top order to have Middlesex rocking at 31-3. But the impressive Stefan James, who earlier took 5-43 with a splendid spell of left-arm spin bowling, turned the match around.

Although Andover spinner Matt Hooper took 3-41, James used perfect second day batting conditions to his advantage, hitting an undefeated 81 to earn Middlesex a four-wicket win.

© Hants CCC