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    Lace century in vain as Hampshire qualify for Division One

    14 July 2021

    Hampshire qualified for Division One of the LV= Insurance Championship with a seven-wicket win over Gloucestershire on the final day at Cheltenham.

    They were made to work hard as Tom Lace’s 118 led 126-overs of second-innings resistance but Gloucestershire were eventually bowled out for 310 and the target of only 54 was dealt with after tea.

    It ended Gloucestershire’s dreams of a maiden Championship title as they missed out on a top two finish in Group Two despite winning five matches - only Yorkshire won as many.

    But three defeats from their final four games - taking a total of just six points from those losses - costed Gloucestershire the top two spot.

    They were well behind here after a weak first innings but, in a repeat of the return fixture back in May, made a good fist of trying to bat through the final day to save the game, with the draw good enough to stay above Hampshire.

    Hopes rose of another great escape as Lace made his first century for Gloucestershire but he became just the fifth first-class victim of Joe Weatherley’s career and no-one else could match his longevity.

    The day began, like day two, with an immediate reward for Hampshire as Glenn Phillips was trapped lbw by Colin de Grandhomme fifth ball of the day.

    Ryan Higgins and Jack Taylor formed useful stands with Lace but Higgins drove at Keith Barker and edged to slip three overs before lunch and Taylor played around Kyle Abbott and lost his off stump.

    Lace remained. He pulled de Grandhomme to reach a 114-ball fifty before Barker was flicked through square leg and then steered to third man to raise a century in 214 balls with 12 fours and two sixes.

    But his fine effort ended in agonising fashion as he shouldered arms to Weatherley’s off-spin and was plumb lbw. 

    Ollie and Tom Price hung around for 22 overs before another groaning dismissal as Ollie pulled a Mason Crane long-hop into short leg’s back and the rebound popped up for leg slip. Matt Taylor was then lbw to Wheal shouldering arms before Dan Worrall drove to point.

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