Spearman fires Gladiators

On a superb Cheltenham pitch and in front of boisterous home support, the Gladiators raced to 296-9 and then produced a competent bowling display to keep the the visitors' total to 225-9.

The day belonged to Spearman (107) and Windows (76), whose stand gave Gloucestershire the platform to earn four points to swell their lead at the top of the table.

But the home side got off to the worst possible start when Tim Hancock was sent back to the pavilion for a duck after a peach of a ball from Dimitri Mascarenhas trapped him lbw.

New batsman Ian Harvey then edged one to John Crawley off the same bowler and Gloucestershire were wavering on 17-2.

But Windows joined Spearman to carry the fight and they did so in some style, Spearman, caught off spinner Shaun Udal, hit 13 fours and four sixes in his ton.

Udal also accounted for Windows, but skipper Mark Alleyne, 21 off 24 balls, and Jeremy Snape (38 not out) lifted the Gloucestershire total.

Mike Smith was soon among the wickets when Hampshire began their reply, bowling Neil Johnson and then having John Crawley caught behind.

With the wickets continuing to fall, Hampshire fell behind the required rate and they were eventually stranded on 225-9, Smith and Harvey both collecting three victims.

Frizzell County Championship

Division Two Southgate: Middlesex 376-6 (S G Koenig 113, P N Weekes 67 no, B L Hutton 65, O A Shah 60) v Essex.

Norwich Union League

Division Two Cheltenham: Gloucs Gladiators 296-9 (C M Spearman 107, M G N Windows 76, A D Mascarenhas 4-67), Hants Hawks 225-9 (S D Udal 58, J D Francis 51). Gloucs Gladiators won by 71 runs.

Other Match Arundel: India 253-7 dec (D Mongia 87, V V S Laxman 85) & 255 (M Kaif 77, W Jaffer 52, J J C Lawson 6-76) v West Indies A 266 (D S Smith 69, R O Hinds 62, D J Bravo 55, Harbhajan Singh 4-79, A B Agarkar 4-55) & 81-4 India drew with West Indies A