Hampshire are facing a battle to stay in the top flight in this season's County Championship , after the club were docked eight points for the preparation of a "below average" pitch for their fixture against Sussex in May .

Hampshire, who are currently taking on Sussex in the return game at Hove, have slipped from fifth place to eighth in the first-division standings following Thursday's ruling from the independent Cricket Discipline Panel (CPD). With a revised tally of 124 points, they are now just six clear of Durham in the relegation zone, with two further rounds of the Championship to come.

The contest in question took place at the Utilita Bowl from May 23-25. Sussex won the match by nine wickets, with their spinner Jack Carson claiming second-innings figures of 5 for 26 in

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