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Glos return to the top of the group with 43 run win over Middlesex

14 June 2015

Gloucestershire bounced back from consecutive T20 defeats to beat Middlesex by 41 runs and move back to the top of the South Group.

In a match where skipper Michael Klinger’s remarkable run of form came to an end, four players put in career best performances as Glos posted 214-4 before bowling the hosts out for 171.

Benny Howell (57) and Peter Handscomb (29) both made their highest scores in the Blast while with the ball Craig Miles took 2-24 and David Payne returned 5-24.

To watch a post match interview with David Payne click below

Glos were also indebted to a superb knock of 75 from vice-captain Ian Cockbain who put on 101 with Howell to set up the victory.

The visitors lost the toss at Richmond and batted first for only the second time this year.

Opener Klinger  went into the game on the back of a tremendous run of form that had seen him score 403 runs without being out.

And he continued where he left off, cutting the first ball of the match for four off Kyle Abbott.

But for the first time this season he was unable to continue his run-scoring exploits as he was finally out in the third over of the game – caught at short fine leg by Toby Roland-Jones after top-edging a pull from Abbott.

With no Dent or Hamish Marshall, Peter Handscomb opened the innings and responded with his best Glos T20 score of 29 before being run out attempting a quick single in the 8th over.

At 61-2 Howell joined Cockbain at the crease and after a measured start the pair set about the Middlesex attack with an assault of clean hitting.

Cockbain brought up his third Blast 50 of the season and second v Middlesex in the 15^th over with a four straight down the ground off Paul Stirling. He hit two straight 6s in consecutive balls off the Irishman to end the over and take Glos to 149-2 with five to go.

Two more boundaries at the start of the next over from Toby Roland-Jones brought up the 100 partnership off 50 balls but it proved to be Cockbain’s last contribution as he edged one to Balbirnie at short third man to depart for 75. His innings, which came off just 39 balls, included five fours and six sixes.

His departure did little to slow the Glos run rate as Geraint Jones picked up where Cockbain had left off. He struck three fours over cover in the 18^th over - bowled by Abbott – and followed it up with two more over the same part of the field in the next one from Roland-Jones.

In the midst of Jones’ boundary hitting Howell brought up a deserved half century off 32 balls with six fours and a six.

He was run out by Abbott in the final over for a career best 57. But a towering six by the wicketkeeper from the penultimate ball of the innings ensured Glos would post a commanding 214-4.

Like Klinger, Middlesex dangerman Paul Stirling started in ominous fashion, clipping Fuller over point for six off his first ball.

He struck another maximum in the next over off Craig Miles but became the seamer’s first T20 victim of the season when he chopped on one ball later for 13.

New man Nick Gubbins settled straight away hitting two fours and a six off Fuller to take the hosts to 33-1 after three.

Having opened the bowling throughout this season’s Blast, Payne was made to wait until the fifth over to enter the action.

And he made an instant impact. First Fuller took a good catch at mid off to dismiss Nick Compton (8) before getting Gubbins in the same over, caught by Jones off Payne for 28 after top-edging a pull. Gubbinsm on T20 debut hit five fours and a six in a 14 ball onslaught.

Franklin and John Simpson began the task of rebuilding for Middlesex and reached 99-3 at the halfway stage after the latter helped take 21 off a Jack Taylor over with some fearsome straight hitting.

But just as it looked like Middlesex may get away,  Howell picked up the wicket of Franklin (16) in the next over, caught by Cockbain, to make it 114-4.

Andrew Balbirnie fell without score in the next over as the introduction of Payne again did the trick – Howell taking the catch at short cover – as Glos closed in on victory.

When Miles had Dexter (2) caught by Jones and Abbott fell to Payne in consecutive overs, the home side were floundering on 125-7.

Tom Smith, James Fuller and Payne cleaned up the tail between them to leave Middlesex 43 runs short with three balls left – Simpson top scoring with 74.

Next up for Glos is the visit of local rivals Somerset at the Bristol County Ground this Friday.

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