Hants in College lesson (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Hants in College lesson

Hampshire stormed up to second place in the Frizzell County Championship First Division behind Kent with an emphatic 178-run victory over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham College.

Stand-in captain Shaun Udal took a season's best 6-61 with his off-spin as Gloucestershire were bundled out for 232 in pursuit of 411 to win.

Only Matt Windows, with a patient half-century, resisted long for the home side, who slumped to a sixth defeat of the season with 19.1 overs remaining.

Requiring a further 393 for victory with all 10 wickets still standing, the hosts were never really in the hunt on a slow pitch, especially with Udal revelling in his starring role in the absence of Shane Warne.

Craig Spearman and Philip Weston did take their opening partnership to 63 in some comfort before Spearman was bowled, playing across the line to Australian Andy Bichel for 34. Then Weston soon followed, lbw, to Udal for 26.

West Indian Ramnaresh Sarwan, in his second Championship match, and Windows put on 78. But Sarwan, after suffering a nasty blow to the knee off Hampshire's other Australian overseas player, Shane Watson, guided Dimitri Mascarenhas straight to substitute Greg Lamb at first slip for 48, having hit six fours.

Alex Gidman and Windows went in quick succession, and at tea Gloucestershire were 202-5.

Ian Fisher and Steve Adshead looked capable of holding up the visitors, but the tail soon folded to leave Hampshire with hopes of a first Championship title since 1973.