Hashim Amla played a key role, along with erstwhile Saffa Gareth Berg, as Hampshire squeezed past Sussex by two wickets with four balls remaining in the One-Day Cup.

That was despite the brave effort of David Wiese, who took 3-46 in his 10 overs, including Amla, caught behind after anchoring the Hampshire innings.

Amla grounded out 63 off 83 balls, hitting just three fours among those. But after Rilee Rossouw had gone in the first over, and captain James Vince followed soon after with the score on 19, there was a need to consolidate.

There was an aggressive challenge by Berg, the former Western Province player who has played for Italy, thanks to his passport. He slammed 65 off 37 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, taking Hampshire almost to the line. At 236-8 in the 47th over, it was touch and go, but Mason Crane stayed calm to score a lively 21 off 30 balls to see Hampshire over the line.

Berg, a SACS old boy who began his county cricket career in 2004, also starred with the ball in Sussex’s innings, taking 3-51. Among those was Harry Finch, who top scored with 108. Luke Wells scored 56, and Wiese was next best injecting a valuable 29 off 20 balls batting at No 8.

For a while, it looked enough.

Elsewhere, Derbyshire’s Duanne Olivier bowled six overs straight, dismissing Worcestershire opener Daryl Mitchell for 12 and conceding just 12 runs.

But an injury prevented him from bowling again, and his teammates gave away another 311 off the other 44 overs, leaving Derbyshire 324 to win.

They failed by 50 runs.