Rouse Pouches Four But Hampshire Hang On
10 July 2014
Adam Rouse claimed four last day catches before Gloucestershire had to settle for a draw in the LV=County Championship match with Hampshire at Southampton.
The hosts closed on 213-6, leading by just six runs, after a sixth-wicket stand of 74 between Adam Wheater and Sean Ervine had batted them to the brink of safety.
Gloucestershire had earlier declared their first innings on 504-8, Will Gidman eventually falling for 119, made from 186 balls, with 14 fours, while Benny Howell contributed 38.
That left Hampshire needing 207 to avoid an innings defeat, with 80 overs left in the day. They looked in trouble at 138-5 after James Vince had been dismissed for 63.
But Wheater batted for more than an hour and a half for his 29, while the more aggressive Ervine hit 57 not out off 81 balls, with 9 fours. Together they defied the Gloucestershire attack for 21.1 overs.
Wicketkeeper Rouse took catches to dismiss Michael Carberry, Will Smith, Vince and Joe Gatting. Tom Smith (2-62) was the most successful bowler, while the other four wickets were shared between Will Gidman, Liam Norwell, David Payne and Howell.
Gloucestershire's Director of Cricket John Bracewell felt his team got what they deserved from the match.
He said: "Eighty overs was the right number to try and bowl them out. It was just a matter of how far we could get into their batting. If we had a down side, it was the guys starting to run out of petrol.
"I reckon we held the high ground for the majority of the game. We lost some key moments, but in the end we walked away with the most points because we deserved to.
"We batted well. We put that down to working to a very simple plan of 10-run blocks, and it was engaged by the whole group."
Gloucestershire took 12 points from a game they dominated, while Hampshire had to be content with eight.
For more details on the final day click on Cricket and then Match Reports.
