Hampshire v Gloucestershire: Hosts struggle on day one
- From the section Counties
| LV= County Championship Division Two, Ageas Bowl |
| Close, day one: Hampshire 251-9 v Gloucestershire |
| Hampshire 2pts; Gloucestershire 3pts |
| Match scorecard |
Liam Norwell took four wickets as Hampshire struggled through their first innings against Gloucestershire on a rain-disrupted day at the Ageas Bowl.
Rain had caused a two-hour delay but play finally got underway at 13:10 BST.
The hosts were left reeling when Norwell (4-87) had Will Smith (45) and James Vince (25) out and they soon lost four in seven overs.
But David Balcombe and James Tomlinson formed a late partnership of 69 to bring Hampshire to a finish of 251-9.
Norwell and Tom Smith (2-22) were among the wickets as Hampshire collapsed to 182-9.
Balcombe and Tomlinson's subsequent fightback was all the more important as Hampshire look to move top of Division Two.
BBC Radio Solent's Kevan James:
"Hampshire coach Dale Benkenstein said he was happy with their total after day one.
"However it has taken an unbroken last-wicket stand worth 69 between David Balcombe and James Tomlinson to get them there, on a green wicket at the Ageas bowl.
"Gloucestershire's bowling attack is depleted with injuries, and Benkenstein reckons his bowlers will get a lot more out of this surface."