So any suggestion that this shaky performance against Hampshire marks a significant shift in fortune is not permitted, even though it follows a bad defeat by Lancashire a fortnight ago.The official reasons for Hampshire’s dominance are losing the toss on a hard, dry pitch that took spin at lunch on Friday, 24 hours earlier than expected; and, second, a couple of dropped catches that proved expensive as Hampshire scored 560.The notion that this match would be won by spin seemed justified on the second ball of the day when Rob Bailey played back to Shaun Udal and was bowled for 55 But the next three batsmen fell to seam or pace.. But it will have been a memorable recovery if, by tomorrow evening, Warwickshire do not lead Northamptonshire by 20 points. Only Lamb – with seven scores of more than 50 in 15 innings – has been consistent.One of the few events that cheered the crowd was the news that their rivals, Lancashire, had lost to Gloucestershire. Montgomerie had added only six to his single in the first innings, and, after scoring 192 in his first game this season, his decline may be shadowing that of the whole team. The best they managed in the first was 58 by Paul Taylor, who batted for two and a half hours after coming in as a nightwatchman; and Fordham’s patient 72 not out in the second innings.Because of spirited hitting by two of Taylor’s fellow lower order batsmen, Jeremy Snape and Anil Kumble, Northamptonshire managed to score 321, but that was 239 behind Hampshire and they were still more than 200 behind when they lost Richard Montgomerie, caught at second slip off a well-directed, good length ball from Kevan James. They might struggle to a draw tomorrow, but that depends on Northamptonshire’s batsmen producing a couple of commanding innings, as Robin Smith (172) and Mark Nicholas (120) did for Hampshire.If a good individual performance was a requirement in Northamptonshire’s first innings, it was a necessity in the second. Bailey, who was 49, had struck the ball firmly, especially through the covers; his stand with Fordham had added 89 and Northamptonshire were 124 for two, still 115 behind Hampshire.When Allan Lamb, still batting with a sore thumb, came in the scoring rate slowed, and at the close Northamptonshire were still 99 behind Hampshire.

If they were able to raise the scoring rate in the last hour and get to within, say, 75 of Hampshire’s total with nine wickets standing, there was a chance of a memorable recovery tomorrow.
But, with eight overs to go, on a turning wicket, Bailey misjudged the slow left-arm spin of Rajesh Maru and played on. The thought was that they might win the County Championship for the first time. In the past month, however, they have fallen short in the flash and dash department Yesterday was no exception. Following on 239 behind Hampshire, there was a faint gleam of hope when Alan Fordham and Rob Bailey started to build a second-wicket partnership.

FOR the first half of the season Northamptonshire threatened to emulate Dr Martens, the bootmaker which sponsors them, by transforming themselves from workmanlike into fashionable. He averages 47 this season and must be on the brink of today regaining the England place that many feel he should never have lost “I’m probably at a peak,” he said Russell’s peak is very high indeed.. “But we won’t be satisfied until we win a trophy.” Russell cited the emergence of Smith, the run-scoring of Wright, and the psychological boost provided by three new men – Andrew Symonds, Monte Lynch and Javagal Srinath – as the key factors.And then there is Russell’s own form, with both gloves and bat. Indeed, Gloucestershire have to go back further than any county, even Kent, for the last time they won anything – to 1977 and the Benson and Hedges Cup.”Now everyone believes we can beat anyone,” Russell said.

The compact and nimble Matt Windows and the taller, more refined Tony Wright, knocked off the runs in 23 overs to give Gloucestershire their fifth win of the season.For Russell, in his first season as captain, these are satisfying times in a county career that has not produced many. Resuming their second innings on 87 for 8, a lead of only 53, Lancashire had little hope left, even less after the third ball of the day when Warren Hegg aimed an extravagant cover drive at the left-arm over of Mike Smith, and Jack Russell caught him at the wicket.Glen Chapple spun things out, adding 30 for the last wicket with Gary Keedy before he was bowled having another heave at Smith, that left Gloucestershire with 84 to win. The match ended in the first over after lunch to leave most of a large festival crowd with mixed feelings: delight, even surprise, at the way the home side had sailed through what should have been a stiffer challenge; but disappointment at being deprived of further entertainment on a day when the Cheltenham College ground was at its loveliest.
The damage had been done by Friday night. AFTER victory in last week’s Benson and Hedges Cup final had got people talking about Lancashire possibly improving on Warwickshire’s record of a treble in 1994, they were yesterday reminded that there is competitive life left in the County Championship when a fast-improving Gloucestershire beat them by 10 wickets. Rhodes, pulling and driving zestfully, reached his hundred with a straight six off Peter McIntyre.. Rhodes and Neal Radford then gave a reminder that Australian spinners, Shane Warne apart, are mere mortals, 118 coming in 26 overs.