Hampshire and Gloucestershire 2ndXIs draw at Bournemouth

Hampshire's second eleven cricketers are evenly poised with their opponents from Gloucestershire after the first day's play at Bournemouth, despite twice being in a position to take a firm grasp on the game.

They had the visitor's wobbling at 169/8 - but were unfortunate to come across some stoic lower order batting which was buoyed with a fair slice of luck, taking Gloucester to 241 - and then looked in a good position in reply at 53/0, but let it slip to 89/3 at the close.

The away team got themselves into a good position at lunch, with Ian Fisher hitting 84, after James Bruce and James Hibberd had made early breakthroughs.

However, 155/4 slipped to 169/8 with an excellent spell of bowling from Lawrence Prittipaul and Chaka Hodge. Prittipaul was at his exuberant best, swinging the ball both ways, and beating the bat with regularity, and picked up 4/33 as he ran through the middle order.

He was well supported by Hodge - an off-spinner from Anguila who has represented West Indies A - as he extracted some turn and bounced and kept the pressure on, grabbing 3/32.

Hampshire felt aggrieved at the negative decision of what looked like a catch at 3rd slip, which was turned down, and were also unlucky on a number of occasions as the ball just evaded fielder's hands. They got off to a good start in reply though, with Dominic Clapp (25) and James Hamblin (32) both hitting the ball well from the off. The pair chalked up their fifty partnership, but both men would have been disappointed to be caught in the covers.

Greg Lamb left one that jagged back onto off-stump soon after, but Prittipaul (27no) and Academy debutant Kevin LaTouf (7no) saw there side to the end of play without further damage.

Kevin Latouf showed just what a good young prospect he is for Hampshire cricket, as he hit an impressive 80no on his second eleven championship debut, against Gloucestershire at Bournemouth.

The 17 year-old, who is a product of Hampshire's cricket academy, batted for over three and a half hours for his runs, and helped take his side into a good position in the match.

Having lost three wickets on the first evening, Hampshire needed to play well to get a lead over Gloucester's first innings total of 241, and Latouf, along with the experienced Lawrence Prittipaul set about that task. Both men set their stalls out to bat long, and Prittipaul produced a series of classy strokes to take him past fifty, but clipped one off his legs straight to mid-wicket just after passing the landmark.

Latouf continued to bat with maturity beyond his years, defending well, and punching the ball through both sides of the field, and he was well supported by wicket-keeper Iain Brunnschweiler (46), as they pair closed in on the visitor's total.

A breezy innings of 42 from James Hibberd took Hampshire ahead, and they ended with maximum batting points and a healthy lead, with their score of 304.

Gloucestershire's openers batted well, despite another good display from bowler James Bruce, and it was he that got the first break through, trapping Tim Hancock LBW.

Bruce's fitness showed during a gruelling 15 over spell, and he got further rewards as he doubled his tally, dismissing James Pearson for 5.

Gloucestershire crept up to 125/3 by the close, with Prittipaul cleaning up Dave Price with an inswinger, but good bowling in the morning should set an attainable target for the young Hawks on the final day.

The second X1 game against Gloucestershire at Bournemouth petered out into a draw early in the evening yesterday, after a hard fought match.

Hampshire, who had dominated the first two days, failed to capitalise on a good position on the final day, and were thwarted in the morning session by Ian Fisher and Andy Bressington. Despite some fine bowling, in particular from James Bruce, who took 2/51 from 23 probing overs, the Gloucestershire pair batted solidly, and rode their luck during a session when wickets were vital for the home team.

Things just didn't go Hampshire's way, with several nicks not carrying and mis-timed shots falling in vacant areas, and the visitors were able to take their total past 300, setting a target that was always a long shot.

Greg Lamb bowled a fine spell of off-spin, picking up 2/32, but lack of assistance from the pitch meant that Gloucester could set a run chase of nearly six an over from the remaining 46 overs.

The loss of exciting batsman James Hamblin - who is set to open in Hampshire's first Twenty20 match - in the first over, was a huge setback, and the home side never really recovered.

Dominic Clapp compiled a neat unbeaten half-century, but the run rate kept escalating and the loss of Lamb, Lawrence Prittipaul and Iain Brunnschweiler ended any slim hopes of victory. James Hibberd joined Clapp at the crease and the pair ensured that no further wickets fell, and both sides had to be content with a