CRICKET: Betts blast boosts the Bears; YESTERDAY'S ACTION IN THE CRICINFO CHAMPIONSHIP.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE captain Mark Alleyne saw his decision to bat first backfire badly at Bristol as the home side closed a rain-shortened first day struggling at 135-8 against a pumped-up Warwickshire attack.

Heavy showers prevented play before 2.30pm and the Warwickshire pacemen then enjoyed themselves in humid conditions, on a pitch which had retained a little moisture.

Melvyn Betts claimed three wickets, Alan Richardson and Vasbert Drakes snapped up two apiece and there was one for Dougie Brown.

Gloucestershire were 39-5 at tea, but rallied in the final session thanks to an unbeaten 53 from Jeremy Snape.

The home side had taken maximum batting bonus points from their last three matches, but they will do well to register 200 and gain one point from this innings.

Their start was torrid, Betts causing the main problems in an opening six-over spell which saw him have Kim Barnett at Matt Windows caught for ducks, at gully and first slip respectively.

Dominic Hewson provided some resistance with 26, but he, Chris Taylor and Alleyne all fell to catches behind the stumps by Keith Piper before tea.

Jack Russell was next to go when he played onto Richardson for 12 and it became 86-7 when Martyn Ball edged Betts to Nick Knight at second slip for 13.

That proved to be Warwickshire's last success until the final over as Snape and Mike Cowdron put on 49 for the eighth wicket.

Snape, with maiden tons in the championship and Norwich Union League to his name over the past month, reached his half-century from 112 balls with eight fours.

Cowdron had scored 10 from 33 deliveries when he was yorked by Drakes off the last ball of an eventful day.

DEVON MALCOLM tore into the Surrey first innings to give Leicestershire hope after a dismal morning in the Division One match at Grace Road.

Having removed the home side for 165, Surrey collapsed to 102 all out as former England bowler Malcolm claimed a superb 8-63.

Opening batsman Nadeem Shahid lasted just eight balls, scoring seven runs before Malcolm tempted him into lifting a catch to Smith.

Matters got much worse for the visitors as the Hollioake brothers both departed without scoring a run between them.

Ben was bowled by Malcolm on his fourth ball while Adam's stay at the crease was even shorter - he was trapped lbw by Malcolm first ball.

Leicestershire made a significantly better start to their second spell at the crease and finished on 79 without loss with openers Trevor Ward (42no) and Iain Sutcliffe (23no) still there.

Owais Shah made up for the disappointment of not being called into the squad for the first Test by hitting a superb 144 for Middlesex against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Opener Andrew Strauss made 67 before being bowled by Andrew Harris . Shah was finally bowled by Richard Logan but the impressive scoring continued as Stephen Fleming made 120 not out. He was supported by Ben Hutton who helped Middlesex to a mighty 397-3 at the end of day one.

A HALF CENTURY from Derek Kenway and an impressive all-round performance in the field helped Hampshire crush Sussex by 79 runs to lift themselves up to joint second place in the Norwich Union Division Two table.

Kenway's innings of 76, his second 50 of the season in the competition, included seven boundaries and provided the foundation for the home side to post a total of 231-7 from their 45 overs.

Opener Jason Laney and captain Robin Smith provided good support to allow Hampshire to set a testing target for the visitors in their first ever floodlit game at the Rose Bowl.

CAPTION(S):

ON SONG: Melvyn Betts