Hampshire edge closer to victory at Bristol.

Marshall made 84 but Hampshire
remain in control at Bristol.

Hampshire edged closer to victory after Gloucestershire reached 308-9, leaving the visitors with a favourable task on the final day of their County Championship match at Bristol.

Hamish Marshall and David Payne added 89 for the eighth wicket to give the hosts a lead of 190 runs, but Hampshire will hope to chase down the runs on the final day, with just one wicket to find tomorrow morning. 

Resuming on 417-9, the visitors added just five runs to their overnight total after Adam Wheater (82) became Matthew Taylor’s fifth scalp of the innings, with James Tomlinson left unbeaten on four. 

But Hampshire’s first innings gave them a useful lead of 118 runs and early wickets in Gloucestershire’s second innings put them in the driving seat.

Openers Chris Dent (4) and Michael Klinger (1) both fell cheaply courtesy of Tomlinson (2-62) and first innings centurion, William Tavare (18), was unable to steady the innings, as Gloucestershire stumbled to 48-3.

Still trailing by 70 runs, Gloucestershire needed a calm head to keep them in the match and were able to call upon Alex Gidman and Hamish Marshall, who added 76 for the fourth wicket, as the hosts eliminated this deficit. 

But the loss of both Alex and Will Gidman for the addition of 12 runs meant that the hosts were 18 runs ahead, with just five wickets remaining. 

Marshall proved to be the only Gloucestershire player willing to dig in and despite useful contributions from Cameron Herring (22) and James Fuller (28), the hosts found themselves with an innocuous lead in the evening session. 

At 216-8, Gloucestershire’s second innings faced termination, but an 89-run stand between Marshall and David Payne (44) ensured that the hosts would resist the onslaught of the Hampshire bowlers, before the late loss of Payne to James Vince.