Date-stamped : 28 Apr97 - 06:19 AXA Life League: Parsons` nose out of joint By Neville Foulger Gloucs (236-8) bt Leics (125-9) by 111 runs WHAT a difference a winter can make. Seven months ago, in their final Sunday League game of the season, Leicestershire thrashed a record 344 for four off the Durham attack. At Grace Road yesterday, the county champions were comprehensively beaten by Gloucestershire in their first match of the new season. Leicestershire lost by 111 runs, and at one stage of an embarrassingly one-sided affair, they were heading towards an even more resounding defeat. Chasing a target of 237, Leicestershire lost their first four wickets for 19 runs and were 52 for seven by the 16th over. But Gloucestershire eased off and the match meandered along for another 24 overs with the home side reaching 125 for nine. Much of the credit for Gloucestershire`s win has to go to Mark Alleyne and Tim Hancock, whose seventh-wicket stand of 48 in five overs stopped Leicestershire in their tracks. Leicestershire looked in the box seat when they had Gloucestershire at 139 for five in the 29th over. But their bowlers lost the plot in the final 10 overs, conceding 90 runs - 61 of them coming from the last five. Gordon Parsons suffered most, being hit for 46 runs off three overs. Hancock made 36 off 18 balls, and Alleyne made an unbeaten 45. Monte Lynch had given the innings a solid start with a robust 42 before left-arm spinner Matthew Brimson claimed three for 37 to have Gloucestershire stuttering in mid- innings. But their late rally dealt a blow from which Leicestershire never recovered. Parsons made some amends for his bowling, top-scoring with 41 not out. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)