Hampshire 2ndXI defeat Gloucs to make it 5 in a row

A fine all-round performance from Lawrence Prittipaul saw Hampshire II's to their fifth straight one-day victory of the season over Gloucestershire, at the Rose Bowl yesterday.

Prittipaul took 3/36 from his nine overs, before striking a fluent 59, as Hampshire chased down their target to keep a one hundred per cent record in the Second Eleven Trophy.

Morning rain reduced the game to 44 overs per side, and Gloucestershire posted a total of 184/9, with some good bowling from the home team.

Chris Tremlett made a welcome return from injury, and picked up the early wicket of Tim Hancock, before doubling his tally late on in the innings.

Prittipaul, James Hibberd (2/20) and Charlie Van der Gucht (1/30) all bowled excellently to keep the run rate down, as Ian Fisher (60) batted well, before he was well stumped down the leg-side by Iain Brunnschweiler.

Hampshire's response was based mainly round Prittipaul's breezy innings, as he hit a series of boundaries to seemingly take the game from Gloucester, but a few wickets, and then another rain break put the game back in the balance.

It then swung hugely in the away team's favour, as Hampshire lost four wickets for two runs, leaving 21 from the final 4 overs, with two wickets in hand.

It was a true captain's innings from Van der Gucht, though, that made the difference, as the plucky left-hander smashed three vital boundaries as the dark and rain closed in, and Hibberd struck the winning blow through mid-wicket.