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Cowan And Marshall Seal Another Big Win

5 July 2012

Ed Cowan admitted he couldn't have hoped for a better start to his short spell with Gloucestertershire than hitting 70 in a seven-wicket Friends Life t20 victory over Worcestershire at Bristol.

The hosts' largest home crowd of the season saw them take another step towards quarter-final qualification as debutant Cowan shared a second-wicket stand of 142 in 15 overs with skipper Hamish Marshall, who hit 72.

That helped Gloucestershire chase down a testing target of 160 to win with 12 balls to spare. They are now on nine points in the Midlands/West/Wales Division, just one behind Worcestershire, Somerset and Warwickshire with each team having two games to play.

The first of those for the Gladiators is against Warwickshire at Edgbaston tomorrow night when they will have a chance to overtake the home side.

Cowan was understandably delighted with his first taste of action at the County Ground, emerging from a sketchy start to strike the ball cleanly all around the wicket.

Ed told this website:"It's always nice to contribute to a great win and especially in my first game for the club.

"Scoring some runs takes the pressure off straight away and helps me settle into a new changing room so I couldn't be happier.

"I'd played quite a lot of cricket in England before, but it took ten or 15 balls for me to find my timing. It was a good one-day pitch and things eventually fell into place.

"Everything has happened so quickly with me joining Gloucestershire. I was over here and keen to play some cricket before the Aussie A tour and everything fell into line.

"I was living in the county anyway at Cirencester and after a dash to sort my visa out this week I was able to sign.

"My heavily pregnant wife and I were always looking to find a house over here for the summer. It could have been on the West coast of Scotland, but it so happened we found one in Cirencester.

"I will be able to walk to the Cheltenham Festival next week! I'm just so pleased everything has dovetailed and after all I have heard about playing at Cheltenham I can't wait."

Worcestershire posted 159-6 after winning the toss, Gareth Andrew top-scoring with 43 and captain Daryl Mitchell hitting 31 off just 13 balls.

Spinners Ed Young and Muttiah Muralitharan stood out for Gloucestershire, conceding only 43 from their combined eight overs.

It looked likely to be a testing target on a slow pitch. But after losing Benny Howell in the opening over for a first ball duck, Gloucestershire dominated, Marshall reaching a 35-ball half-century, having been badly dropped on 14.

Australia Test batsman Cowan also struck the ball handsomely, making his runs off 49 balls, with 9 fours and 2 sixes. By the time Marshall was out only 17 runs were needed.

For more detalis on another great Gloucestershire win click on Cricket and then Match reports.

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