Hampshire Hawks suffered their second successive defeat in the Norwich Union League when the Gloucestershire Gladiators soundly beat them at Cheltenham on Thursday.

Despite losing two early wickets to Dimitri Mascarenhas, the home side produced some carnage on the small sun stroked ground, New Zealander Craig Spearman was severe on all the Hampshire seamers with Mullally, Tremlett and Mascarenhas all tasting the blade of his bat as he shot four huge sixes and 13 fours in a 85-ball 107.

He was kept company by Matt Windows, whose more circumspect 76 still included a six and six fours before he was trapped by the best of the Hampshire bowlers on the day, Shaun Udal, who took 2-39 in 9 overs.

Mascarenhas finished the innings as he started, with two wickets either side and with Udal and Johnson keeping a tight line, the expected huge 300 plus score was abated, however, 296 for 9 was still a daunting target for the Hawks to chase.

The chase got off to a dreadful start as the top three of the cream of Hampshire batting were all dismissed to the gentle swing of Mike Smith and Ian Harvey for just 33 runs.

Giles White hit a run-a-ball 30, Nic Pothas perished looking for the big hit and Mascarenhas likewise. John Francis, though, playing his first NUL game of the season scored a polished 51 but on his dismissal at 126-7, the game was up.

With the pressure off, Will Kendall and Shaun Udal put together an eighth-wicket partnership of 89 with a selection of aggression and safety in mind. They fell four runs short of the Hampshire all-time eighth wicket partnership record of 93, which was shared by Udal and Adi Aymes against Middlesex back in 1996.

Udal hit 58 and Kendall 32 not out, before Harvey came on to finish the job.

© Hampshire Cricket