Hampshire new boy Kyle Abbott is likely to miss the end of the county season after helping his South African side qualify for the Champions League T20.

The Champions League dates are yet to be finalised but overseas signing Abbott is expected to miss at least two LV County Championship matches in September after the Dolphins reached the final of the Ram Slam T20 Challenge.

He will definitely miss Hampshire’s first Championship match against Worcestershire on April 6 but will probably now also miss the last two fixtures, against Kent and Glamorgan.

Abbott can win his first silverware of the year when he and his teammates take on the Cape Cobras in Cape Town on Sunday afternoon.

The Dolphins won their semi-final against the Titans by 31 runs thanks to David Miller’s sensational 37-ball 93 not out, before Abbott took his 14th wicket of the tournament.