Dravid fails to deliver for Scotland as Smith steals the show

The Scotland debutant Rahul Dravid was overshadowed by Robin Smith as Hampshire handed the Saltires their second National League defeat of the season by a six-wicket margin.

Dravid managed only 25 as the hosts mustered a total of 201 for 8 at The Grange yesterday. But Smith found the small ground to his liking in a stylish innings of 82, occupying just 85 balls, with 10 fours. The Hampshire opener Derek Kenway also hit a half-century and the Hawks clinched a simple victory with two overs to spare.

Dravid, allowed to appear as one of two overseas players for the Saltires, got off the mark with a boundary off Ed Giddins early on. But the Indian World Cup batsman was tied down in a 41-ball innings, eventually edging an angled delivery from the former England left-armer Alan Mullally to wicketkeeper Nic Pothas.

It was Scotland's other overseas player, the South African Jon Kent, who top-scored with 57.

A packed venue attracted by the prospect of watching the hard-hitting Dravid in full flight, instead saw impressive bowling from the Pakistan veteran Wasim Akram, who dismissed opener Ryan Watson lbw first ball and bowled Kent on his way to figures of 3 for 32.

Spinner Shaun Udal also snapped up three wickets for the Hawks, who went into this match four league places behind their hosts.

An excellent innings of 76 from Matt Windows steered Gloucestershire Gladiators to a National League double over Leicestershire Foxes at Grace Road. Set a target of 235 on a difficult pitch, Gloucestershire made light work of the task and won by three wickets with eight balls to spare.

Windows, who led the way with his 91-ball innings including eight fours and a six, and Chris Taylor shared a third-wicket partnership of 100 in 18 overs to lay the foundations for the victory.

Although Leicestershire struck back with a flurry of wickets in the later overs, captain Mark Alleyne and James Averis steered the Gladiators home.

Leicestershire reached 234 for 6 after winning the toss with Australian Brad Hodge scoring his first limited-overs half-century for them. He made 63 off 96 balls before being bowled off an inside edge by Ian Butler.

The next highest contribution for the Foxes came from the extras column which totalled 46 including 14 wides and two no-balls. But the former Gloucestershire player Jeremy Snape put together a beautifully crafted innings down the order when it looked as though the home side might struggle to reach the 200 mark.

Snape made an unbeaten 39 off 32 balls, finding the gaps in the field and timing his shots perfectly. Phil DeFreitas gave him good support in a vital seventh-wicket stand and with 40 runs coming off the last five overs the Foxes posted a competitive total.

New Zealander Craig Spearman then hit a typically dashing 34 off 34 balls before Windows and Taylor joined forces to provide the platform for the Gladiators' second win of the season - both of them at Leicestershire's expense.