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Australia’s vice-captain says he plans to go on till the 2015 World Cup, and credits Darren Lehmann for fostering a relaxed dressing-room culture

Brydon Coverdale05-Jan-20140:00

Australia stars hail Lehmann effect

Australia’s vice-captain Brad Haddin has credited coach Darren Lehmann with eliminating anxiety from the change room and allowing captain Michael Clarke to focus his attention on the on-field battle that led to Australia’s Ashes clean sweep. Haddin, who also quashed retirement rumours, said all the “nervous energy” had disappeared from within the squad in the lead-up to this series, and this was a key factor in the triumph.Prior to the first Test at the Gabba, Haddin said the previous coach Mickey Arthur had been “very, very insecure” in the role, which he believed had contributed to a poor atmosphere in the camp. After the 5-0 success was secured in Sydney, Haddin said the turnaround from the 3-0 defeat in England, when Lehmann had only just taken over on the eve of the series, had been in part down to the difference in feeling in the change rooms.”I think Michael’s always been an outstanding tactician,” Haddin said. “He reads the game as well as anyone you can play with. I think what Darren and his staff have done is take the anxiety out of the change room. And all the nervous energy. We can just get on and do our job and Michael can do his without having to worry about anything else.”I think our preparation was spot on. There was no anxiety leading in to the first Test. Everyone was relaxed and knew exactly where they stood. We knew what our team was a long way out, going in to this campaign, so we could prepare to play Test cricket, not look over our shoulders and worry about what was going on. We could prepare for this series and give it the respect it deserved. It was a massive test for us, that first Test match.”Haddin has epitomised the aggressive style of play the Australians have favoured in this series, his counterattacking with the bat rescuing the team from trouble in all five first innings. Attack has also been the key for the bowlers, with Mitchell Johnson’s pace and accuracy making life uncomfortable for England’s batsmen, while Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle never gave an inch.”We’ve played the brand of cricket that Australians expect and that we expect as a group,” Haddin said. “I think that’s been pretty evident watching from the sideline. I’ve been ultra impressed with the way our fast bowlers have gone about it. There have been no places to hide. Once they’ve been five down it’s been uncomfortable.”And at times [it would have been] outright scary, trying to stand in front of these guys takes a lot of courage. From that point of view I’m happy with where it’s all at. We’re playing the Australian brand of cricket now. Darren and all his staff can take a lot of credit for that. We’re getting back to enjoying our cricket and enjoying being Australians and playing our way.”Brad Haddin said he wanted to go on playing till the 2015 World Cup•Getty ImagesJohnson was presented with the Compton-Miller Medal as Player of the Series but Haddin must have been strongly considered, given his outstanding work with bat and gloves throughout the campaign. In future it may appear surprising that Haddin did not even earn a Man of the Match award in any of the five Tests, but his contribution to the 5-0 result was incalculable.It was all the more remarkable given that Haddin was not considered the first-choice wicketkeeper less than a year ago, when Matthew Wade was viewed as the long-term option behind the stumps. However, Haddin’s return as vice-captain for the Ashes in England proved a shrewd move by the selectors – who included Arthur at the time – and he has shown that age is irrelevant to what a player can offer the team.A few days ago, rumours began to circulate at the SCG that Haddin would bow out after the Sydney Test, content to end on the high of a 5-0 Ashes victory and spend more time with his family, including his daughter Mia, who is in remission from cancer. But Haddin said he had no retirement plans and still intended to play on until the 2015 World Cup, although he stopped short of saying he wanted to play in the next Ashes series in England later that year.”I’m very clear where I want to go,” he said. “I’ve said all along that I’d like to play along to the World Cup. From a cricket point of view I probably haven’t played as much cricket as guys my age. A lot of guys my age would’ve played 250 first-class games. I’m enjoying it at the moment. As long as I’m still challenging myself and things are going in the right direction at home I’ll play as long as I’m enjoying it and contributing to this team being the team we want to be.”I’m 36, I can’t hide behind the fact that that’s my age. But from a cricket point of view I also started a lot later at Test cricket than most … And I’ve had some time away from the game, so from that point of view I feel in a good place about my cricket. I’m enjoying being part of this team and what we’re trying to create moving forward.”

The ongoing two-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka is a chance for the Bangladesh selectors to have a final look at some players as they look to tick off a few boxes before picking the 15-member squad for the World Twenty20 squad

Mohammad Isam13-Feb-2014The ongoing two-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka is a chance for the Bangladesh selectors to have a final look at some players they will discuss in the next two days before they pick the 15-member squad for the World Twenty20 squad.While more than half the side select themselves, there are at least seven players in the 30-man provisional squad who are in contention for the last four places in the side.Abdur Razzak’s place will be under some scrutiny after he was overlooked for the T20s against Sri Lanka. The selection panel, however, will be keen to go into a major tournament with a vastly experienced left-arm spinner, particularly with Razzak’s end-over skills coming into the equation. Arafat Sunny’s domestic form and economical spell in the first T20 would give him an outside chance, but he will get another look in the second and final game against Sri Lanka.Shafiul Islam could also be discussed, as he has recovered from his latest injury and bowled well in the National Cricket League recently. He may also play in the upcoming ODIs against Sri Lanka. He will be competing with Al-Amin Hossain, who has bowled decently without much success in his limited international exposure, but has domestic form, particularly in the shape of a five-wicket over in a T20, in his favour.”We have been working on the World T20 team for the last four to six months,” Faruque Ahmed, the chief selector, told ESPNcricinfo after the first T20 against Sri Lanka. “One match would not make much difference in our opinion, but we wanted to give them a feel of international cricket. Arafat Sunny bowled well today, but I think he bowled short in one over. We have a few players in our mind. Shafiul is one of them, but we have to keep an eye on everyone.”The second T20 on Friday could see Sabbir Rahman play in the middle order. The young batsman has been talked about for the last three years, ever since a last-ditch innings against Afghanistan in the Asian Games final. He has scored heavily in the shorter formats, particularly in the recent Twenty20 competitions. Mithun Ali might make way for Sabbir in the second game.”We didn’t pick three debutants in the first Twenty20 in order to keep a balance in the side because we already had five players coming into the team,” Faruque said. “We picked Mithun ahead of Sabbir because the former can play shots from the word go, but Sabbir needs a bit of time at No 3 or 4 before he starts to flourish. Sabbir has a strike-rate of 130.”Farhad Reza’s domestic form will keep him ahead of Ziaur Rahman, who was considered T20 material in the last World Cup but has fallen out of favour after losing form.The selection of the World T20 team will be an early test of Faruque, who was appointed chief selector in December. He had shown plenty of gumption before the 2007 World Cup, picking a raw Mushfiqur Rahim ahead of Khaled Mashud, the country’s No 1 wicketkeeper at the time. It paid off, as Mushfiqur batted well and has since flourished in international cricket. Faruque would not perhaps be required to take such bold steps yet because he has a settled squad, with a core group of players who have played together for the last five years.But even among the settled players in this team, there are one or two who need to spruce up their game quickly. Sohag Gazi’s bowling form has not been up to the mark while the likes of Mashrafe Mortaza and Rubel Hossain have to weed out errors in their bowling. Mominul Haque, despite his Test form, also has to adjust quickly to the format.”Mominul is a very talented player, and he has proved in Test cricket. It is important that we make the best use of him in all formats,” Faruque said. “T20 is a format where you have to score better than a run a ball. He is a stroke-maker, no doubt. From a selection point of view, he is definitely in the forefront of our thoughts in all formats.”

If Graeme Smith’s men take the Newlands Test, they will be the first South African team to win a series over Australia on home soil since readmission

Firdose Moonda in Cape Town28-Feb-2014Graeme Smith will wait until the Newlands Test is over before saying what he really thinks of David Warner’s comments about how the hosts got the ball to swing in Port Elizabeth. But by then it will probably be too late.One of three things will have happened: South Africa would have won the match, the series and Smith’s men would become the first to beat Australia at home since readmission, Australia would have come back and upset the No.1 team in their own backyard or there will be a fighting draw that will leave everybody wanting a longer series. Whichever it is, the relevance of Warner’s attack on South Africa will have disappeared by Wednesday.What Smith did offer was: “He’s becoming a little bit of a rent a quote. My thoughts are pretty strong. I’ll probably end up saying something towards the end of the Test match.” Smith agreed with the match referee’s finding that Warner’s remarks were “disrespectful.”That may be the real kernel of it. If there is one man in cricket who does not tolerate irreverence, it is Smith. As cricket’s longest serving current Test captain, leader of the No.1-ranked side and an opening batsman who has maintained an average on or around 50 for most of his career despite playing in some of the toughest conditions, Smith has earned the right to some respect.He thinks his team has too, which is why Warner’s accusation stung bitterly. “As the coach said this just adds to the motivation but it’s sad that it took the gloss off an extremely good win and a good spell of fast bowling,” Smith said. “At the moment, my focus is on getting us prepared [for Newlands] and we’re ready.”Ready to get their own back at Warner by ensuring they hold on to one of the chances he seems to inevitably offer them? Or ready to triumph in a Test that will make history for this South African side? Smith seemed too weary to ask.He confirmed he had a challenging build up off the field – his young daughter had a small accident and although she is in perfectly fine, he has had a few sleepless nights – as well as on it. With no scores over 15 in the series so far and only 37 runs to his name in the two matches, Smith is, once again, under pressure to produce with the bat.It’s lead to speculation his time is up – speculation he has heard before and is used to answering by scoring in a big way – and he seems to be gearing up for another special. “I haven’t contributed the way I am used to contributing,” Smith admitted. “But mentally, I’m in in a good space. I let myself down a bit in Port Elizabeth. I know it’s about getting through that initial period and then there will be opportunity.”Ultimately, for both Smith and South Africa, this match is about snatching a big chance and not letting go. Whether or not beating Australia at home is a massive part of the final frontier – winning a series on the subcontinent is probably the other part and with a tour to Sri Lanka this July, they will will have a chance at that before the year is out – this is as good an opportunity as they’re going to get to leap over it.South Africa have gone 14 series without being beaten and of those, they’ve won eight. Since August 2006, they’ve played 25 series and lost only one to Australia in the summer of 2008-09.Beyond those numbers, South Africa have shown determination and resilience in the early parts of their run and started to display glimpses of ruthlessness in the latter. The first summer at home after becoming No.1, they won all five Tests they played, against New Zealand and Pakistan, and ensured none went to five days.Before this series, they faced grueling comeback challenges and overcame them. After going 1-nil down in the UAE, they came back to level the series there and after falling eight runs short of what would have been a world-record chase of 458 against India in Johannesburg and settling for a draw, they sealed the series to send Jacques Kallis off in style.All of those results combined have ensured they are as prepared as they can be to beat Australia at home, despite the sporadic schedule Smith keeps lamenting. “Our schedule has been a challenge already – it’s been a challenge to have a nice run,” he said.That will continue to be an obstacle. After Wednesday, South Africa play no Tests for five months until July. Then they play two. Then they play no Tests for another month. Then they play one in Zimbabwe. Then they play none for another four months. Then they play three against West Indies.The sizable spaces in the schedule means it’s even more important to win against Australia now. The next time they visit these shores some of the current crop won’t be around. It’s not as dramatic as end of an era stuff but it’s nearly there and although Smith does not want to go that far, he seems to know it.”We’ve lost one series in eight years, that needs to be embraced,” he said. ” We have an exciting opportunity ahead us over the next five days. It would be a big feather in our caps if we can come back and win this series.”As for Warner, it seems there isn’t much left to say after even his own captain voiced disapproval with his claims. “I’ve made clear how disappointed I was and am about his comments,” Michael Clarke said. “At the appropriate time, I will catch up with Graeme and make it clear how I feel about that.” And then, Warner may be the last thing on Smith’s mind.

A strong all-round Wellington show, led by Andrew Ellis with the ball and Stephen Murdoch with bat, helped the team edge past Canterbury in the third preliminary final in Christchurch and book their entry to the final of the Ford Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Apr-2014
ScorecardA strong all-round Wellington show, led by Luke Woodcock with the ball and Stephen Murdoch with bat, helped the team edge past Canterbury in the third preliminary final in Christchurch and book their entry to the final of the Ford Trophy, against Northern Districts on April 5. It was Wellington’s second consecutive win in the preliminary finals – they ousted Auckland in their previous match – and it has now offered them a chance to take a shot at the title after finishing fourth in the group stage.Opting to bowl, Wellington broke the back of Canterbury’s innings within the space of 11 deliveries. Canterbury had made solid progress to reach 100 for the loss of one wicket in the 23rd over when Woodcock, the left-arm spinner, struck. He dismissed opener Tom Latham for 48, then had Rob Nicol stumped in his next over. In between, Grant Elliot removed Dean Brownlie for a four-ball duck. From 100 for 1, Canterbury lost three more wickets without any addition to their score. The situation worsened as they lost two more wickets in quick time to be 125 for 6 in the 33rd over. A late ripose by Andrew Ellis, who scored a career-best 81, revived the innings to 239.Wellington made a strong start to their chase, with the openers adding 55. Michael Papps was out for 32, but Michael Pollard and Murdoch put on 95 for the second wicket to blow away any thoughts of a collapse. Pollard, who hit eight fours and a six in his 70, was the only other wicket to fall as Murdoch found another able ally in captain James Franklin, who scored an unbeaten half-century. The two helped Wellington stroll past the target with four overs to spare.

Bangladesh fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza has said that it is imperative the opening batsmen get off to a strong start in order to ease the pressure on the middle order

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur27-Mar-2014Bangladesh fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza has said that it is imperative the opening batsmen get off to a strong start in order to ease the pressure on the middle order, ahead of their game against table-leaders India. The openers Anamul Haque and Tamim Iqbal have averaged 30.50 in four T20s this year, but have come up short in the last two games.Against Hong Kong, Tamim was dismissed in the first over, while against West Indies, the pair added just 14 runs. Tamim has scored just 56 runs in four innings but Anamul has been in good form in limited-overs cricket recently, with an average of 40.66 in the last four games.”The Asia Cup was 50 overs, whereas here the batsmen get less time and they have to play shots from the start,” Mortaza said. “This means there’s a greater chance of getting out. Our batsmen couldn’t start well in the last game. The middle order and the lower order also didn’t score many. They are trying, no doubt about that. Everyone has their plans.”We plan to start well tomorrow, to ensure we have a set batsman at the crease. At the moment, everything seems to be difficult. I feel that if we can start well tomorrow, it will be easier for us. We lost wickets early against West Indies and Hong Kong. I still believe that our batsmen can dominate top-class attacks.”Bangladesh batted well in their last meeting with India recently, when they posted 279 for 7 in the Asia Cup with Mushfiqur Rahim scoring a hundred and Anamul making 77. Virat Kohli, however, helped India chase it down with relative ease with an aggressive century.There has been widespread criticism of the Bangladesh team off late, even from the BCB president Nazmul Hassan who said on Wednesday how disappointing it was to see the team go down easily against Hong Kong and West Indies.Mortaza said the team must accept the criticism, and focus on being more competitive. “I think it is hard to comment on [what the BCB chief has said], as it is only natural for everyone to talk after these two losses. As players, we have to accept it. We have to try and turn it around from the next game. We had a long discussion with him, and he wants to help everyone.”We have to agree that we lost the last two games badly. Firstly, we have to fight hard. Once we do that, we can play better. We have always won when we have given a good fight. We didn’t do that in the last two matches.”Mortaza will be expected to give the team a good start with the ball, particularly with the seamer Al-Amin Hossain who bowled well against West Indies. However, Bangladesh may ultimately look to its spinners to respond in conditions that offer turn and bounce.”Our spinners have always been a factor, though the pacers have to provide a good start. But when the spinners do well, we win games. We will still need a combined performance, as that often brings us wins. All the bowlers have to do well against India,” he said.

This will be the first of five afternoon matches scheduled in the UAE, and it will have to be seen whether the pitch is similar to the green one used for the tournament opener

The Preview by Abhishek Purohit17-Apr-2014Match factsChennai v Punjab, Abu DhabiFriday, April 18, 2014
Start time 1430 (1030 GMT, 1600 IST)4:01

Hattangadi: Chennai’s Samuel Badree could be a handful

Big PictureThe clouds of controversy are swirling around Chennai, even as they are about to begin another season of the IPL. Time for them then, to embrace that “cocoon” of a familiar team environment around themselves. It is something their coach Stephen Fleming has spoken about, that despite all the uncertainties surrounding the franchise in the run-up to this season, getting together again has been soothing for him and his players. The environment is made still more familiar with the continuity Chennai have managed in their squad over the years, retaining more or less the same core group of players. And a leader who, in his seventh year as international captain and entering his seventh season as franchise captain, is still able to squeeze performances from himself and his players amid almost ever-present off-field drama.Chennai have been able to purchase batting replacements for the loss of Michael Hussey and spin reinforcements in the form of Samuel Badree. They appear relatively light on quick bowlers, but if the pitch for their opening game against Punjab behaves anything like the one for the tournament opener did on Wednesday, the likes of Ben Hilfenhaus and young New Zealander Matt Henry will be difficult to tackle.Suresh Raina will be the first to reach 100 games in the league•BCCIThe tournament opener between Kolkata and Mumbai was played on a green pitch which had plenty of carry for the fast bowlers. It seemed a bit like the surface Punjab have often dished out at home in Mohali, and their new acquisition Mitchell Johnson would have loved to bowl on it.Kolkata began slowly and were able to accelerate late with two set batsmen in the middle. It is an approach Chennai have used for years. It is to be seen what kind of approach Punjab will employ, with the utterly contrasting styles of Virender Sehwag and Cheteshwar Pujara.This will be the first of five afternoon matches scheduled in the UAE, and though both of these sides will not be involved in the next four, other teams would like to keep an eye on the conditions, especially the heat, given the 230pm start.Watch out for …With a List A average of 55.03, Cheteshwar Pujara has every right to feel aggrieved at being denied a run in the Indian ODI unit. However, a T20 strike-rate of 103 and an average of 19.80 suggest he lags behind when it comes to the shortest format. A similarly orthodox batsman such as Ajinkya Rahane has shown the type can succeed at T20. Can Pujara add another dimension to his batting this season?R Ashwin had an outstanding World T20, one of the highlights being his dismissal of Hashim Amla with a carrom ball that turned like a legbreak. Ashwin took the delivery to another level in the tournament, using it liberally with tremendous control. He also experimented with a Sunil Narine-like action in the Asia Cup. What does he have in store this season?Stats and trivia Chennai have an emphatic 8-3 lead in the head-to-head with Punjab, with one game tied Suresh Raina is set to become the first man to play a 100 IPL matches

In a must-win match for Sunrisers Hyderabad, they take on Chennai Super Kings, who have lost their last two matches, in Ranchi

The Preview by Devashish Fuloria21-May-20143:01

Prasad: Warner could continue as opener

Match factsThursday, May 22, 2014
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)Big PictureWhen Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad meet in Ranchi on Thursday evening, they will have very different goals on their minds. Sunrisers need to win both their remaining games to have any chance of making it to the playoffs, and even then their chances are dependent on other results – they are near the bottom of the pile of the group of five hopefuls for the third and fourth spots.Super Kings, on the other hand, are already through to the playoffs but have a slightly different itch. With three losses in their last five games (after six straight wins), they seem to have gone off the boil. Their batsmen haven’t put up enough runs, their bowlers have appeared toothless and they have dropped catches in the field. Basically, they haven’t been their formidable self. Therein lies an opportunity for Sunrisers to exploit. Their bowling attack is one of the better ones in the league and their batting is finally coming together. Can they keep Super Kings down and take the fight to their last match in Kolkata?Bhuvneshwar Kumar, an electric car compared to Dale Steyn’s V-12•BCCIForm guideChennai Super Kings: LLWWL (completed games, most recent first)
Sunrisers Hyderabad: WLLLWWhere they standChennai Super Kings: Second, with 16 points from 12 games
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Seventh, with 10 points from 12 gamesPrevious encounterSuper Kings weren’t tested enough when they met Sunsrisers in Sharjah last month. Given a middling target of 146 to chase, Super Kings’ openers more or less sealed the contest with a rapid 85-run stand.Watch out forBhuvneshwar Kumar’s report card this IPL season has been top-notch. A+ for the number of wickets (he is the leading wicket-taker with 20 dismissals), A+ for his economy rate of 6.32, A+ for the kind of batsmen he has dismissed – Dwayne Smith, Virat Kohli, David Miller, JP Duminy, Ajinkya Rahne, etc, A+ for generating swing with the new ball and A+ for his death bowling. On top of that, he is an electric car compared to Dale Steyn’s V-12 – he does the job silently and efficiently. This season, he has been one of the constants in an inconsistent team.The scorecard from the previous match doesn’t tell the story of the Ranchi pitch. It afforded generous turn to the spinners right from the start and the batsmen struggled. A pitch like that takes the early sting out of Super Kings’ batting and it would be interesting if a similar surface is laid out.Stats and trivia MS Dhoni’s strike rate of 148.66 is the best among the top five Super Kings batsmen. However, he has faced the fewest balls. He has been not out seven times in 12 innings. Mohit Sharma is two wickets behind Bhuvneshwar in the list of leading wicket-takers this season. He has not taken a wicket in his last two matches More than 48% of Naman Ojha’s runs have come in sixes, which is the best ratio among the top ten six-hitters in the competition. Yuvraj Singh is second on the list with 47% of his runs in sixesQuotes”David Warner has been in great form in the middle order and we just wanted to try a different opening combination. The change worked and our partnership set the perfect tempo for the rest of the game.”
“Well, we didn’t field well. We dropped a few catches, but that happens in cricket. But at the same time, we need to play really well in the next two games.”

Parvez Rasool has said the upcoming India A tour of Australia is very important for him and he will try to put in his best efforts to secure a place in the senior side

26-Jun-2014Jammu & Kashmir allrounder Parvez Rasool has said the upcoming India A tour of Australia is important for him and he will try to put in his best efforts to secure a place in the senior side.”The Australia tour is very important for me,” Rasool said. “I am going to Australia with the A team and I hope to perform well and get a place in the Indian team very soon.”Rasool, who recently became the first cricketer from the Kashmir valley to get an ODI cap, said he believes he has to perform well whenever a chance comes his way.”Whenever I get a chance to play, I will put in my best and try to perform very well to represent the country in many tournaments,” he said.He said it was an overwhelming feeling to get an ODI cap and a great experience to play for the country. “When I played for my state in the Ranji [Trophy], it was a good feeling but when I got an ODI cap, the feeling was overwhelming. I felt really great to play an international match.”Rasool praised India’s team management for the support they had shown him. “I got huge support from my captain and coach,” he said. They had some very encouraging words for me after my performance and it felt very good. To include a cricketer in the playing eleven is the team management’s decision. The wickets in Bangladesh were suited more for the medium-pacers than the spinners.”

Darwin’s Northline Oval has been axed from the ongoing one-day quadrangular A-series due to a below-standard pitch

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jul-2014Darwin’s Northline Oval has been axed from the ongoing one-day quadrangular A-series due to a below-standard pitch. The venue hosted South Africa A’s ten-run win over the National Performance Squad on Sunday but its remaining two games will be shifted to Marrara Cricket Ground and The Gardens.”Unfortunately, the pitch at Northline Oval experienced some issues of variable bounce during Sunday’s match between the National Performance Squad and South Africa A,” Sean Cary, Cricket Australia’s senior manager of cricket operations, said.”Following an assessment of the pitch this morning we have taken the decision to relocate its remaining two matches in the series. The curators have done a very good job in the circumstances, but the pitch requires more work over the coming weeks to get to the standard required for international cricket.”Thursday’s match between Australia A and South Africa A has been moved to Marrara, while next Tuesday’s game between India A and the National Performance Squad has been shifted to The Gardens.

Jack Taylor claimed four wickets as Gloucestershire made it back-to-back Royal London Cup successes with a 35-run victory over Hampshire at Bristol

Press Association31-Jul-2014
ScorecardWill Tavare ensured Gloucestershire had something to bowl at•PA PhotosJack Taylor claimed four wickets as Gloucestershire made it back-to-back Royal London Cup successes with a 35-run victory over Hampshire at Bristol.The home side posted a modest 233 all out after losing the toss, Will Tavare top-scoring with 77 on his first one-day appearance of the season. Benny Howell hit an unbeaten 43 against his former club, while James Tomlinson was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 23 from 7 overs.In reply, Hampshire looked well placed at 150 for 3 in the 34th over before three run-outs and some accurate bowling saw them plunge to 198 all out, with offspinner Taylor returning 4 for 38 and Will Gidman 2 for 47.The result gave Gloucestershire four points from their opening three 50-over fixtures, leaving Hampshire on two from the same number of games.Skipper Jimmy Adams had little hesitation in opting to field first on a rare overcast morning and saw his decision pay dividends as Gloucestershire slipped to 51 for 3 in the 12th over.Hamish Marshall (15) fell to a slip catch in Matt Coles’ first over, while Tomlinson claimed the key wicket of Michael Klinger by bowling him for 18.The left-arm seamer then bowled Ian Cockbain between bat and pad for a duck and Tavare walked out with his team in trouble.Chris Dent (37) helped add 48 in 11 overs before being caught at deep square from a top-edged sweep off Will Smith and it was 103 for 5 when Gidman chopped a ball from Sean Ervine onto his stumps, having made only three.Tavare reached a chanceless half-century off 58 balls, but lacked support as Gareth Roderick, returning after a broken finger, was bowled playing back to Danny Briggs for 13.It was 186 for 7 when Tavare was caught behind aiming a big hit off Chris Wood, having faced 78 balls and hit eight fours. Taylor (10) smacked Coles back over his head for six, but was bowled by the next delivery attempting a pull shot.Howell did his best to bolster the score at the end, but lost both tail end partners, Craig Miles and David Payne to run outs, the latter in the final over after a stand of 28.Hampshire were given a sound start to their innings by openers Adams and James Vince, who took the score to 61 in the 11th over before Vince was caught behind off Gidman for 27.Adams survived a chance to wicketkeeper Roderick off Miles on 31 and had moved to 48 off 68 balls, with seven fours, when falling lbw pushing forward to offspinner Taylor.Miles missed an opportunity to run out Ervine, but Adam Wheater, who had moved confidently to 30, casually lofted a delivery from Taylor to Marshall at long-on to make it 120 for 3 in the 26th over.Hampshire had a bigger wobble on 150 when Ervine (23) was run out by Tavare’s brilliant pick up and throw from midwicket having been called for single by Smith and Coles was bowled by Howell for a duck.Dawson was run out by Dent’s throw from cover when sent back by Smith going for a single and suddenly the visitors needed 63 from their last 10 overs.Wood was lbw trying to sweep Taylor and Gidman bowled Briggs before Taylor finished things off by bowling Smith, who had faced 56 balls and hit three fours and a six.