Hampshire's County Championship future now clearer after key decision

That penalty was handed down after their recent match against the same county at Hove, and plunged them into a relegation battle that now looks set to be settled at the Utilita Bowl against Surrey this week.

Hampshire had 14 days in which to lodge any appeal to a Cricket Discipline Panel (CDP) which cited uneven bounce and excessive spin as the primary reasons behind their decision in a match that the home side eventually lost by nine wickets.

The Hawk now understands that Hampshire have decided not to appeal that punishment, which in many ways makes their task this week clearer than might otherwise have been the case.