Hampshire Fall Just Short Despite Impressive Batting Display

Eye-catching half-centuries from Tom Alsop (50), Sean Ervine (53), Liam Dawson (57) and Gareth Andrew (70*) were not enough for Hampshire, who were defeated by 10 runs Gloucestershire in their Royal London One-Day Cup match at Bristol.

An opening stand of 242 in 38 overs between Klinger (166 not out) and Dent (142) led the hosts to 352 for three from their 50 overs with Liam Dawson (2-60) the pick of the bowlers.

Andrew’s unbeaten fifty, his first for Hampshire, came from 41 balls (4 fours, 5 sixes) during a valiant effort with the bat in reply as Hants eventually finished on 342-8.

There’s no doubt overcast conditions would have played a part in Sean Ervine’s decision to field first after winning the toss, however it was batting side, Gloucestershire who made the stronger start.

Openers Dent and Klinger brilliantly smashed 242 together to break the record for the highest List A partnership for the first wicket for Gloucestershire against Hampshire. This set the home side on their way and despite decent spells from spinners Liam Dawson (2-60) and Shahid Afridi (0-44), Gloucestershire looked well-placed to reach an impressive total.

A late wicket for Dawson and Gareth Andrew (1-49) did peg the home side back slightly, but there was simply no stopping Klinger, who hit the ball to all parts of the ground – taking 17 runs from the final over to leave Hampshire needing 353 runs to win from their 50 overs.

Coming back into the side after missing the Middlesex win through injury, young opener Alsop looked in fantastic touch during his 40-ball stay at the crease as he gave Hants a solid start to the run-chase.

 Eye-catching knocks from Alsop, Ervine blasted successive sixes off Howell in the 19th over as he moved to the quickest fifty of the match off 32 balls, with 3 sixes and 2 fours.

Noema-Barnett then struck the key blow with his innocuous looking medium-pace as Ervine miscued a cross-batted shot to short fine-leg. And Hampshire’s last realistic hope was dispelled when Afridi (4) fell cheaply to Craig Miles.

Dawson’s 47-ball half-century and Andrew’s blistering late assault were spirited efforts, but too little too late as 30 were still required off the final over. Andrew picked up two more sixes in it to take his tally of maximums to five in a 41-ball blitz that deserved more reward.