Hampshire Secure Bounce-Back Victory Against Gloucestershire

Rilee Rossouw notched an unbeaten 45 off just 27 balls as Hampshire got back to winning ways with a 24-run D/L victory over Gloucestershire in a rain-affected NatWest T20 Blast fixture at Bristol.

Mason Crane (2-17) once again performed with the ball, however an unbeaten century from Gloucestershire opener Michael Klinger (101*) helped guide the hosts to 174-5 after their 19 over innings.

In reply, Rossouw and James Vince (42) got Hampshire off to a flying start, propelling them to 111-1 after the opening 10 overs, before the rain arrived at the County Ground with the visitors 121-3.

With Hampshire winning the toss and electing to field first, both Reece Topley and Gareth Berg made an economical start tas just 8 runs came off the opening two overs.

Topley (1-14) was getting the ball to shape nicely, and it wasn’t long before he dismissed Phil Mustard (3), with the left-hander top edging to Rossouw to reduce the visitors to 15-1.

Klinger was motoring along for the hosts, but Liam Dawson, who returned to the Hampshire side with a maiden, bowled beautifully to help restrict Gloucestershire to 38-1 from the powerplay.

Dawson (1-24) had been away on international duty with England, but it took the spinner just nine balls to take a wicket as Ian Cockbain (5) picked out Vince at mid-wicket.

Chris Wood (1-52) was another player returning to the side for their first T20 appearance of the season and the seamer was just as successful, claiming the scalp of Noema-Barnett as the hosts were in a cautious position at 46-3.

Klinger and Benny Howell rebuilt the innings though, and despite some tight bowling from the visitors, the pair were inventive as to where they were scoring their runs.

The former then passed his half-century before their partnership moved beyond fifty moments later as Gloucestershire moved into a healthier position at 100-3.

However, Crane ended the stand dismissing Howell (25) before the spinner claimed the scalp of Jack Taylor (2) in the same over to restrict Gloucestershire to 105-5 after 15 overs.

Klinger was supported by Sri Lankan Thisara Perera (26*), and they accelerated the innings, addidng 58 runs in the following three overs.

The Australian then brought up his century off his 56 balls with seven fours and six maximums, guiding the hosts to 174-5 at the interval.

Hampshire got off to a cautious start in reply, the away-side moving to 12-0 off the opening two overs, but Vince and Rossouw smashed 36 runs off the next 18 balls to accelerate the innings.

The pair then brought up the fifty partnership in the sixth over as the visitors ended the powerplay in a promising position on 59-0 and with both openers going well.

Rossouw then seized the initiative for the visitors, smashing 20 runs off four balls to take Hampshire onto 83-0 in the eighth over with his side ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis rate.

Vince then fell to Perera shortly after to leave his side on 85-1, but despite having a runner, Michael Carberry continued where his team-mate left off with a string of boundaries.

The batsman bludgeoned 18 runs off his first 6 balls at the crease to take his side up to 111-1 after the opening ten overs.

Carberry (20) was then trapped in front by Matt Taylor before the seamer dismissed George Bailey (0) just two balls later as Hampshire fell to 114-3 with 60 runs needed from 8 overs.

Rossouw and Dawson (6*) guided their side to 121-3 in the 12^th over before the rain returned, as Hampshire sealed their first win in five NatWest T20 Blast matches.