Shahid Afridi marked his home debut for Hampshire by taking 5-20 in a win over Gloucestershire at the Rose Bowl.
Ex-Pakistan skipper rips through Gloucestershire's middle order
Shahid Afridi marked his home debut for Hampshire by taking 5-20 in a 16-run win over Gloucestershire at the Rose Bowl.
The former Pakistan captain helped the Hawks get back to winning ways in the Friends Life t20 having suffered a first defeat in this season's competition away at Essex on Thursday night.
In a rain-affected match, Hampshire made 139-7 before bowling out Gloucestershire, chasing a revised target of 124 from 17 overs, for 107.
Afridi, who had made his first appearance for the county at Chelmsford, managed only five runs with the bat as the hosts collapsed from 73-1 to 97-6.
Solid platform
Opener Jimmy Adams had given his side a solid platform with 47 from 33 balls before he was bowled by Muttiah Muralitharan.
Hampshire were then in trouble after Afridi had perished to a catch at long on, but seventh-wicket pair Nic Pothas (15 not out) and Dimitri Mascarenhas, who made 25, ensured a competitive total with a stand of 40 from 21 balls.
Gloucestershire's reply had reached 54-2 before Afridi struck for the first time, bowling Ian Cockbain for 24, in an innings that included four boundaries.
He had Chris Taylor stumped by Pothas in his next over before also bowling Will Gidman for seven. His return to the attack in the 15th over saw him remove Richard Coughtrie and Ian Saxelby in the space of three balls.
Kane Williamson did his best to keep the Gladiators alive, the stand-in skipper making 50 from 42 deliveries with six fours.
But when he was ninth man out to Sean Ervine the game was as over as a contest. No.11 Muralitharan was last out three balls from the end, bowled by Dominic Cork to ensure Hampshire's victory.
