Brilliant Batting Foiled By The Weather
8 June 2014
Michael Klinger led a stunning blitz by Gloucetershire’s batsmen before rain had the final say in the NatWest T20 Blast game against Glamorgan at Bristol.
The skipper hit 70, Ian Cockbain 59 not out and Geraint Jones 37 off just 14 balls as the hosts raced to 207-3 from their 20 overs after winning the toss.
The innings was twice interrupted by rain, which returned at the halfway point in the match, much to Gloucestershire’s frustration.
This time it was heavy enough for the umpires to abandon the game at shortly before 5pm with the outfield soaked.
It was wretched luck for Gloucestershire after a hugely positive display. Klinger and Alex Gidman (26) had launched the onslaught, taking 62 off the first six power play overs before Gidman was run out.
The captain reached his fifty off 36 balls and when he perished to a catch at long-off the in-form Cockbain took over with a 37-ball half-century of his own.
Cockbain capitalised on a free hit provided by a Darren Sammy no-ball to smash the West Indies star straight for six, the ball clattering into a glass panel on the front of the flats at the Ashley Down Road End
Jones provided even more explosive hitting, with 4 sixes in his entertaining cameo, including two off successive deliveries from Michael Hogan in the 19th over.
Sammy’s four overs went for 53 in a spectacular Gloucestershire batting effort. But it was all to no avail as the two teams took a point each from the abandonment.
Michael Klinger said: “It was probably the best batting wicket here for the shorter format since I came to the club.
“The ball really came onto the bat, which made for fast scoring. I had been guilty of trying to over-hit in previous games and just concentrated on playing good cricket shots.
“Sometimes the ball goes further if you don’t try to hit it too hard.
It would have been a challenge for us, bowling with a wet ball and short boundaries. But Dean Cosker did a great job for Glamorgan and we had two specialist spinners in our side so we fancied our chances."
Chris Dent was again ruled out of Gloucestershire's team by a thumb injury and the team was unchanged from Friday evening's victory over Sussex.
