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Champions: Leicestershire, Knock-out Cup: Lancashire, Sunday League: Lancashire, B&H Cup: Essex
After two difficult seasons, John Stephenson was replaced as captain by Robin Smith although Stephenson remained as a player. West Indian pace bowler Nixon McLean arrived as the new overseas player.
Hampshire enjoyed a better season, rising to 6th in the Championship, 8th in the Sunday League and reaching the semi final of the Nat West Trophy. They began with an away fixture at Dean Park, Bournemouth v Dorset and were 0-3 before Smith and Aymes rescued them. They beat Essex and then Middlesex at Lord”s by 144 runs and met Lancashire in the semi final – rather like the days of the early 1990s. Connor took 3-31 and Hampshire’s target was 253 in 60 overs but Lancashire reduced them to 28-5 and despite the efforts of Mascarenhas, James and McLean they lost by 43 runs.
Giles White with 1,211 first-class runs was the leading batsman although Kendall showed promise. McLean took 62 wickets at 25.40 and Alex Morris who moved from Yorkshire topped the averages with 50 wickets at 20.24. McLean, White and Mascarenhas received their caps from David Robinson who had succeeded Jimmy Gray as Cricket Chairman. Richard Dibden and paul Whitaker were released while Cardigan Connor and Raj Maru retired. The latter took up a coaching appointment with Hampshire.
In April 1998 Hampshire agreed the sale of Northlands Road to Berkeley Homes Ltd for a sum just over £5m. In November 1998, work started at West End on the Nursery Ground and Golf Club and members visited the new site for the first time at the season’s end. The timetable planned for Hampshire to leave Northlands Road in 2000 and play 2nd XI matches at the new ground in that same year.
Hampshire Cricket History 