Gloucestershire earn the upper hand against Hampshire

Alastair Bressington more than justified his promotion to the first team by bowling Gloucestershire into a position of strength on the third day of the CricInfo Championship match against Hampshire at Cheltenham.

The 21-year-old Bristolian claimed 3-56 as the visitors were bowled out for 230 in two sessions in reply to Gloucestershire's first innings 334.

He dismissed openers Kenway and White in the space of nine balls and returned in the afternoon to have Chris Tremlett caught at slip.

Ben Gannon then weighed in with 3-47 to raise Gloucestershire's hopes of forcing a second successive win at the Cheltenham festival.

Kim Barnett hit an unbeaten 70 and shared in an opening stand of 64 with Hewson, and at the close Gloucestershire were well placed at 104-1, an overall lead of 208.

Hampshire were indebted to Johnson and Laney, both of whom hit half-centuries to ensure the follow-on was avoided.

Zimbabwean left-hander, Johnson, was the more aggressive, crashing 14 fours in making 72 from 80 balls and sharing in a fifth-wicket stand of 68.

Mark Alleyne then claimed wickets with successive balls to turn the match in Gloucestershire's favour.

Johnson chipped to mid-off and Aymes was trapped on the front foot to spark a collapse that saw Hampshire's last six wickets fall for 69 runs.

Laney batted sensibly in making only his second half-century of the summer, but he was eventually left high and dry on 52* as Morris and Mullally succumbed to Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey.