Gloucestershire Gladiators v Hampshire Hawks NatWest Pro40 10th August
Hardinges makes his mark
(ECB Match Report)
Mark Hardinges proved an unlikely hero for Gloucestershire in an enthralling NatWest Pro40 Division One contest against Hampshire on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.
The long-serving all-rounder has been told he can leave Gloucestershire when his contract expires at the end of this season.
But he produced an inspirational performance with the bat to inspire his side to a nail-biting two-wicket triumph at a packed College Ground.
His efforts secured Gloucestershire's first win in any competition since beating Glamorgan in a Twenty20 Cup group match at Bristol on June 24.
Their victory drought looked like continuing for an 11th game when the Hawks posted an imposing 236 for four in a rain-shortened contest of 35 overs a side.
But useful contributions from Hamish Marshall and Marcus North kept the Gladiators in the hunt and Hardinges crashed an unbeaten 27 from 20 balls, including two sixes and a four, to see them over the finish line with one ball to spare.
Gloucestershire were precariously poised at 189 for six in the 29th over when Hardinges arrived in the middle.
Calling upon all his considerable experience, he played with calm assurance and, fittingly, struck the winning boundary off the penultimate ball from Billy Taylor.
New Zealander Marshall hit 47 in 42 balls and Western Australian North smashed 56 from 52, sharing a stand of 52 for the fifth wicket with David Brown to lay the foundations for Gloucestershire's first win in four attempts in the 40-over competition.
Pakistan A leg-spinner Imran Tahir returned figures of 3-40 from seven overs to briefly threaten a different outcome, but Gloucestershire held their nerve and waited for the seamers to return.
Gloucestershire had endured a miserable festival prior to today, failing to conjure a win in five matches at the College Ground.
Rooted to the foot of Division Two of the County Championship, they went into this game fearing for their top-flight status in the 40-over competition.
Steve Kirby hinted at a change in fortunes when he bowled John Crawley with his first ball.
But that proved a high point for the home side, whose bowlers were flayed all around the park by Hampshire's top-order batsmen.
Lumb proved the destroyer-in-chief, cutting and driving with impunity and giving short shrift to anything wide or short.
The former Yorkshire opener put on 116 in 18 overs for the second wicket with recent England A selection Michael Carberry, and then added a further 85 in 11 overs with Chris Benham.
Gloucestershire's stand-in captain Alex Gidman tried six different bowlers in an attempt to impose some control, but without success.
Driving fluently, Carberry helped himself to eight fours and had harvested 56 from 61 balls, matching Lumb blow for blow, when he edged a catch behind off Hardinges.
There was no let-up in the rate, however, Benham going on the attack in a third-wicket partnership which threatened to put Gloucestershire out of contention.
Displaying aggressive intent from the outset, the former Surrey batsman smashed five fours and two huge sixes in a 35-ball innings of 49, but Benham and Lumb both departed in the space of three overs.
Benham danced down the wicket to Brown and was comprehensively bowled, while Lumb, having scored 88 from 91 balls, perished in similar fashion at the hands of Jon Lewis.
The Hampshire Hawks next match is against south coast rivals the Sussex Sharks in the NatWest Pro40 on Wednesday 13th August. The floodlit match starts at 4.40pm and tickets are available online
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