McKenzie Fifty Leads Hants at Rainy Bristol

Report from day two of Hampshire's LV= County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Bristol

Gloucestershire v Hampshire
LV= County Championship
Day Two: Tuesday 7 August 2012
Bristol

Summary: Hampshire trail Gloucestershire by 167 runs
with eight wickets remaining in the first innings
Gloucestershire: 271
Hampshire: 104-2 (26.4 ovs)
Scorecard

Gloucestershire Team
Nicol, Howell, Housego, Gidman*, Marshall, Cockbain, Coughtrie†, Muchall, Saxelby, Payne, Norwell
Hampshire Team
Adams*, McKenzie, Shafayat, Katich, Dawson, Ervine, Bates†, Mascarenhas, Balcombe, Ali, Tomlinson 

Hampshire made decent head-way in the 29.3 overs that were possible on day two of this LV= County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Bristol. But, ultimately, like so many days’ cricket this season it was another when the rain would claim the lion’s share of the play.

Having gone in on day one with their opponents on 265-8, quick wickets were what was needed and that’s what Jimmy Adams’ side got when, in the third over of the day, James Tomlinson (2-34) swung the ball into the right-handed Richard Coughtrie (26) to rap him on the pads, then David Payne (8) edged a short delivery from Kabir Ali (3-69) behind; Gloucestershire all out for the addition of just six more runs – a first innings total of 271.

In response, Hampshire had reached 9-0 by the time the weather brought the players off for an early lunch. Adams had all the runs scored by his team up to this point but he wouldn’t get the chance to add to them when, first ball after the re-start he would edge Ian Saxelby behind.

That left fellow opener Neil McKenzie at the crease with new man Bilal Shafayat – both men yet to score. That wouldn’t be the case for long though as McKenzie blasted Liam Norwell for four off the opening delivery of the next over and then his replacement in the attack, Payne for a further two consecutive boundaries two overs later.

No-one was safe from the former South African Test opener as he handed out similar punishment to Saxelby, former colleague, Benny Howell and another double off Norwell in the nineteenth over, racing his way to 45 off 65 balls (including eight fours in total) by the time Shafayat (20) drove Howell to Rob Nicol at point.

McKenzie wasn’t about to rein it in, though, and within five overs his 10th four, pulled through midwicket off Saxelby, had moved his side through the 100 barrier – McKenzie having hit exactly half the runs contributed to the cause.

Sadly, just as he was beginning to look set alongside Simon Katich (4*) the rain came once again with Hampshire having reached 104-2. They will resume in the morning with McKenzie (52*) hoping the stoppages haven’t interrupted his flow.

One concern for Hampshire is still Dimi Mascarenhas who left the pitch on day one with a shoulder injury. He is unlikely to bowl in the rest of this game but is expected to bat.
 

Catch-Up:

Preview:	Hants Hoping to Overcome Injury Concerns for Bristol
Day One:	Late Wickets Leave Hamsphire in Charge

Keep Up:

Live Text Cricket Updates	Get updates sent to your phone by texting "Follow @HantsCricket" to 86444 (see link for more details)

Words: Simon Vincent
Images: Getty Images

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