LONDON, July 16: Ashes rejects Shane Watson and Andrew Symonds once more proved the depth of Australian talent by powering their counties to the semifinals of the C and G Trophy one-day tournament with impressive hundreds on Friday.

Watson set-up Hampshire’s improbable two-wicket win away to Surrey at The Oval with a brilliant 132 as the visitors completed the biggest successful run chase in the competition’s history

Surrey had made an imposing 358 for six from 50 overs, wicker-keeper Jon Batty scoring 158.

But Watson, returning to a county usually captained by Ashes-bound leg-spinner Shane Warne, after representing Australia during the recent One-day Internationals, turned the table with a 105-ball innings featuring three sixes and 13 fours.

Stand-in skipper and veteran off-spinner Shaun Udal saw the side home with a composed unbeaten 44 as Hampshire without the hard-hitting Kevin Pietersen — rested at England’s request ahead of next week’s first Test at Lord’s – won with 13 balls to spare.

Results of quarterfinal ties:

At Old Trafford: Lancashire beat Sussex by 35 runs.

LANCASHIRE 249-8 (A. Symonds 101); SUSSEX 214-8 (M.J. Prior 59).

At The Oval: Hampshire beat Surrey by two wickets.

SURREY 358-6 (J.N. Batty 158 not out, J.G.E. Benning 73, G.P. Thorpe 60); HAMPSHIRE 359-8 (S.R. Watson 132).

At Edgbaston: Warwickshire beat Kent by five wickets.

KENT 259-6 (A.J. Hall 62, R.W.T. Key 53, M.J. Walker 51); WARWICKSHIRE 261-5 (N.V. Knight 112 not out, T.L. Penney 50 not out).—AFP