NUL: Gloucs & Hants Win

Gloucestershire put on a spirited run chase at Leicestershire's Grace Road to win in the Norwich Union League First Division today. Brad Hodge's 63, backed up by a rapid 39 off 32 balls from Jeremy Snape had helped Leicester to set a solid 234-6, Mike Smith and Mark Alleyne taking two wickets each.

The Gloucestershire reply began badly with Tim Hancock's duck, but Craig Spearman's breezy 34 set the tone and Matt Windows' 91-ball 76 kept the visitors up with the rate, before some late hitting from Jack Russell and James Averis saw the visitors home with 8 balls to spare and three wickets in hand.

Meanwhile, in the Second Division, the Scottish Saltires went down to their second defeat of the season at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh. Despite Rahul Dravid's debut for the side.

Dravid only made 25 in Scotland's 201-8 off 45 overs, with John Kent's 57 top-scoring and veteran Wasim Akram taking 3-32. In reply, Hampshire eased home by six wickets with two overs to spare as Robin Smith hit 82* at nearly a run a ball being the star performance after Derek Kenway's 51 had laid a solid foundation.

Posted by Neil