Hampshire kept their C & G Trophy hopes alive with a 62-run Duckworth Lewis-caning of Gloucestershire, the one-day side they hope to emulate, at The Rose Bowl.

Gloucestershire are one of only three counties to retain the C & G Trophy - they did so twice in 2000 and 2004 in its various guises.

Sussex retained the 60-over Gillette Cup in 1964 and Lancashire won the competition in its original format for three successive years at the beginning of the 1970s.

But Gloucestershire are the undisputed champions of the modern era, so Hampshire's comprehensive third C & G Trophy victory of the season will have done wonders for their confidence as they bid to follow up last season's success by reaching another Lord's final.

Hampshire had suffered successive last-over defeats, ironically their first in the competition since being knocked out by Gloucestershire at Bristol two years ago, and had another match abandoned before yesterday's James Bruce-inspired victory.

It is incredible to think that, 18 months ago, Hampshire were not sure whether to renew Bruce's contract.

He is now the county's best strike bowler in both forms of the game and yesterday he demolished Gloucestershire's top order in a devastating spell that read: 7-3-18-4.

It included three wickets in five balls during his fourth over that saw the visitors slump to 10 for 4.

But Bruce needed only two balls to make the first breakthrough, trapping Craig Spearman lbw for a duck.

He uprooted Ian Harvey's leg stump as Gloucestershire's other dangerman swung across the line in his fourth over.

A rain interval then reduced Gloucestershire's target from 222 off 50 overs to 214 from 46 but, with the first ball after the interruption, Bruce trapped Chris Taylor lbw.

New Zealander Hamish Marshall shouldered arms at the hat-trick ball.

Marshall was playing his second game for the county, after six weeks out with a rib injury he suffered while batting against South Africa.

He was out for a single as Gloucestershire climbed to second in the table with a five-wicket win against Glamorgan on Sunday, and his inauspicious start continued when he became Bruce's third victim in five balls, brilliantly caught by a diving Nic Pothas for a three-ball duck.

Gloucestershire were reeling at 10-4 in the seventh over but Phil Weston (25) dropped anchor and put on 33 in ten overs with Alex Gidman before he was trapped lbw by Dimitri Mascarenhas.

Mark Hardinges smashed 60 from 42 balls after Gidman (20) nicked Mascarenhas while Steve Adshead, Jon Lewis and Martyn Ball succumbed to Hampshire's spin attack.

Another rain break meant Gloucestershire's target was now 210 in 42 overs and it was just a matter of time before Hampshire secured two valuable South Conference points.

Hardinges hit Shaun Udal for three sixes, one over mid-wicket, and the next two in successive balls over long on.

Hampshire's 221 was reckoned be just below par at the interval, but they had got off to a flying start after Shane Warne had won the toss with Michael Carberry contributing 31 from 30 balls.

Two catches at backward point from Taylor dented their progress.

Taylor held on to an outstanding effort while diving at full stretch to dismiss Dominic Thornely (5) and he also snaffled a low chance to see off the in-form John Crawley (44 from 75 balls).

No matter.

Greg Lamb, in his second first-team match of the season, ensured promotion to this week's championship squad with an excellent 59 from 83 balls, and Mascarenhas hit 36 at more than a run-a-ball before he was brilliantly run out by Ball while backing up.

Udal was unlucky to be out for two as Marshall's foot appeared to be on the rope at long on when he took the catch.

The Kiwi was booed by the Hampshire fans at the Northern End for the last two overs of the innings as first Bruce and then Taylor were run out in the pursuit of quick runs that proved to be more than enough.