Hampshire stay unbeaten

Cork: Excellent final over

Hampshire retained their 100 percent Friends Life t20 record with a 10-run victory over winless Gloucestershire at Archdeacon Meadow.

The visitors made 165-4 after losing the toss with South African Neil McKenzie striking an unbeaten 89 from 53 balls.

Home skipper Alex Gidman led the run-chase with 43 not out but they fell short despite the contributions of Hamish Marshall (33) and Kane Williamson (28).

The Royals lost dangerous pair Michael Lumb and Jimmy Vince inside three overs, the former run out by Marshall while Vince was bowled by Murali.

But James Adams (22) and McKenzie revived the innings with a stand of 51 in six overs before Adams reverse-swept Ian Saxelby to short third-man.

Sean Ervine (21) then combined with McKenzie to add 56 in eight overs as the latter reached his half-century off just 33 balls.

Dimitri Mascarenhas weighed in with 17 off 12 but the total was still getable on the small King's School ground.

Ireland's Kevin O'Brien (22) started brightly but was bowled hitting across the line while Marshall hit two sixes before falling lbw to Dominic Cork.

Hampshire turned the screws with Mascarenhas conceding only 14 from his four allotted overs, while spinner Danny Briggs (2-26) removed Williamson and Ian Cockbain.

Gidman hit three fours and a six in the next two overs which yielded 30 runs but the Gladiators still required 17 from the final over, and Cork held his nerve to concede just seven runs to help his side make it five from five in the competition.

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