SIMON KATICH admits Hampshire finished short of runs - but believes it remains possible to get back into the game.

The Australian, who top-scored with 72 not-out, said: "You need a bit of luck on that wicket.

"I played reasonably patiently so I was pretty happy. When I saw the ball I tried to give it a hit.

"I don't think the boys played badly, Gloucestershire just bowled a couple of good balls and we nicked a few.

"That's the nature of the game unfortunately.

"The bowlers have got to be patient as well, it's one of those wickets that if you hit a good area and do a little bit with it then you are always in the game.

"But as a batsman you have to try to hang in there as long as you can.

"It always helps you individually if you get a partnership and I certainly noticed it when Warnie and I started to get a few going, it makes it a little bit easier when you start rotating the strike.

"197 is short of a mark, we probably would have been happy if we had been closer to 270-300. That would have been a pretty reasonable score on that wicket so we are a bit behind that."

Katich, though, was pleased with his own form.

He added: "It's helped me playing cricket on the back of firstly Australia and then New Zealand, so I've been playing up until about two weeks ago - that's helped my course.

"The guys here have just been training and had a few practice games, which always makes it tough when you first come in and try to get a few runs."

Katich thumped three sixes in his knock, and said: "It was nice to hit a few sixes, I don't normally do that often.

"I certainly wasn't thinking about them, I managed to hit the middle and I think the wind took them a bit."

Two Hampshire academy teenagers, meanwhile, are today making their debuts for the Second XI.

South Wilts all-rounder Eddie Abel and Havant left-arm spinner Chris Morgan are due to be playing against Somerset at Taunton in a two-day friendly.