After failing to get over the line in three tight finishes in the Friends Provident Trophy, Surrey's encouraging start in the Twenty20 Cup continued with their nerve- jangling single run victory over Hampshire on Wednesday night.

After the game, the Brown Caps' elated manager, Chris Adams said: "At the start of the week, if someone had said we'll give you two wins out of the three, we probably would have taken it, because that's currently where we are as a side. We're up and down.

"We're trying our best to be consistent, but we know it's going to take time.

"We've really been working on the guys in the field, as a unit, and I thought they were outstanding tonight. They supported each other.

"I thought the fielding was sensational and I thought the movement, energy and work-rate was where it should be. That was a nine out of ten performance.

"I'm afraid we put in a four out of ten performance with the bat, but we are getting there, although we're currently holding the title of the most inconsistent team in all competitions.

"But it's work in progress, I'm just pleased that this is the first tight one we've got over the line and won, which will do confidence the world of good.

"The guys are working really hard. The next phase, now, is to transfer the work they're doing in practice into game situations.

"We've worked hard on our fielding and it showed [on Wednesday]. They're also working hard on their individual skills with bat and ball. Those are the levels we're really trying to raise at the moment."

If Surrey were going to defend a modest total of 125 for 8, they needed something special.

Not for the first time this season Chris Schofield came to the fore, by bowling Chris Benham, who, with 39, made the highest score in the match, and by running out Jimmy Adams and Nic Pothas with direct hits from mid-on and short mid-wicket.

Surrey manager Adams said: "In the first run out, Schoey damaged the ligaments of his spinning finger, so he came off. It was touch and go whether he was going to go back out there.

"With a bit of coaxing and a bit of encouragement he got back out there and he took a vital wicket, but the run outs were probably the difference.

"The fielding display was at least a nine out of ten.

"I'm loath to give them ten, not just yet, but I was very pleased."

Another hero for the Brown Caps was Jade Dernbach, who had to bowl the final over.

Adams said of his 23-year-old speedster: "What bravery he showed to come on and do that.

"That's what I like about these young fellas coming through.

"They're not short on confidence and belief and for Jade to come on and bowl in that situation required a great deal of character and he showed what he's got – and James Benning's fielding at the end there, it just shows you it's a team game."

Surrey's decision to open the bowling with off-spinner Matthew Spriegel was even more remarkable, though it soon paid dividends with Michael Lumb coming down the pitch and being stumped off the second ball of the Hawks' reply.

Adams said: "I have to say we took that from them. They brought a spinner on straight away and I thought it was a great tactic.

"How adaptable the players can be in situations is one of the things we've been talking to them about, especially in Twenty20. Everything happens so quickly and you have to react and just go with what your gut feeling says sometimes.

"Be brave and back yourself. We said to Spriegs: 'Go on, have it,' and he bowled brilliantly."

On Bank Holiday Monday, Surrey's victory against Middlesex was set up by Usman Afzaal and Mark Ramprakash's unbroken stand of 139, a new Surrey record for the second wicket in Twenty20 cricket.

Afzaal, who made 98 not out, came within a whisker of becoming the first Surrey batsman to make a century in the Twenty20 Cup.

But the stand-in skipper had no complaints when the Panthers could only muster 129 for 7 in response to his side's 186 for 1.

As has been the case with the Brown Caps this season, they could not turn it into back-to-back victories, when the Sussex Sharks came to town and posted the third-highest total against Surrey in the Twenty20 Cup.

Stewart Walters gave the home side hope with a quick-fire 34, but the Sharks' 184 for 9 proved to be 21 runs too many.