Date-stamped : 14 Jul97 - 10:21 Stephenson takes out six By Andy Ford at Southampton Hants (232-4) bt Worcs (145) by 87 runs JOHN STEPHENSON, Hampshire`s captain, answered his critics in style at Southampton with a career-best bowling performance in the Sun- day League yesterday. His 7.3 over spell of relentlessly accurate medium pace earned him six for 33 as Worcestershire`s batsmen wilted. With the in- form Graeme Hick among his victims, it was precisely the response Stephen- son needed just four days after one of the lowest points of his career. As Hampshire crashed to defeat against Glamorgan last Wednes- day after failing to defend a total of 302 in the NatWest Tro- phy, ru- mours swept the County Ground that Stephenson was considering his future as Hampshire captain and the reins had been passed to Robin Smith. But nothing could have been further from his mind yesterday as he left the field surrounded by autograph hunters and cheered on by his team-mates having bowled Hampshire to only their third Sunday League win of the season. Stephenson won the toss and elected to bat on a flat Southamp- ton wicket, Smith continuing his recent run of form to plunder the Worcestershire bowling. Smith fell one run short of a deserved half-century, nicking a delivery from Bobby Chapman as he tried to cut the ball for a seventh boundary. He had faced 58 balls. Matthew Hayden followed having ground his way to 32 and it ap- peared another batting collapse was to rob Hampshire of the chance of testing the Worcestershire bowlers. But Matthew Keech (53 not out) and Shaun Udal (52 not out) rescued their side with a partnership of 98. Hick set about the Hampshire bowling with menace but Stephen- son, with support from Udal (three for 52), proceeded to de- stroy their batting, dismissing Alamgir Sheriyar and Chapman in consecutive deliv- eries to end the Worcestershire innings. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)