LONDON. Sept 8 : Young all-rounder Jon Ayling clipped a legside boundary to give Hampshire a dramatic win and thetr first success fn the Natwcst Trophy with just two balls to spare at Lord's on Saturday, reports Reuter.

Hampshire had appeared to be coasting to victory In the final when they needed 45 off -the last 10 overs with eight wickets in hand. But they then lost four quick wickets.

Although Ayling bolstered their late run chase. Hampshire owed their victory to England Test batsman Robin Smith, afterwards voted man-of-the-match.

He defied a late onslaught from Pakistani fast bowler Waqar Younis in gathering K' >om as he made 78 off 94

Ils before being dramatically run out with just 10 required.

Opener Tony Middleton, making his debut in the Natwest Trophy, had helped put Hampshire on course for their target of 241 with a well paced 78.

He added 90 for the first wicket with Paul Terry (32) and another 70 with Smith before he was yoked by Tony Murphy.

David Gower. acting Hampshire captain in the absence of the Injured Mark Nicholas, was trapped lbw for nine by Waqar and Kevan James was dismissed for nought by Martin Bicknell four balls later.

Hampshire were then 193 for four In the 52 nd over and Surrey were right back in contention.

, But with 24 required off the last three overs, Ayling hammered 13 off our balls from Murphy, Including a six over cover.

Murphy struck back by running out Smith in a piece of quick thinking. Smith's drive hit the stumps at the nonstriker's end and Murphy threw down the other wicket as Smith tried to dive back into his ground.

But Ayling saw Hampshire home with an unbeaten 18.

Surrey's total of 240 for five was built on a fine innings of 93 from Graham Thorpe.

He and England batsman Alec Stewart put on 114 after Surrey had struggled to 25 for one in the 15th over.

Stewart was bowled by Ayling for 61 but David Ward helped keep the momentum going-

Thorpc finally holed out to mid on off paceman Cardigan Connor after making his best score in the competition. But Ward, with 43 off 36 bails, helped lift the scoring rate to four an over.