Gloucestershire fight back on Day 2

If day One belonged to Hampshire, Day 2 belonged to the home side Gloucestershire as they finish the day just 53 runs behind with 6 wickets remaining.

The day started badly even before the first ball was bowled, when Shaun Udal awoke at 5:30am with a severe neck strain, and despite urgent treatment was unable to take any part in the second day's proceedings.

Gloucestershire soon mopped up the tail in the morning with Udal having to retire hurt, Hampshire added just 18 more runs to their overnight tally.

When Gloucestershire batted, Craig Spearman and Phil Weston (recently acquired from Worcestershire) posted an opening stand of 141. Spearman was particularly fierce against the Hampshire bowlers lacking Wasim Akram and Shaun Udal.

The stand was finally broken when Dimitri Mascarenhas induced Weston to edge the ball to slip, Tim Hancock then continued the run scoring before he was sent back running a risky single and was well run out by James Hamblin on the field substituting for Udal.

Spearman fell one run later, as Simon Katich bowling his slow left arm chinamen got one to turn for Kenway to take low down at slip. Windows also fell in the same manner, but with Jonty Rhodes at the crease and a half century already under his belt the Hampshire bowlers will be hoping that Udal can return to help their cause.

Rain in the evening meant that play was abandoned half an hour early.