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It's A Trip To Sussex In T20 Quarter-Finals

8 July 2012

Ian Saxelby took 2-6 to put Gloucestershire on course for the Friends Life t20 quarter-finals with an eight-wicket win under the Duckworth-Lewis system over Northamptonshire at Northampton.

The draw for the last eight was made after all the final group games were concluded and gave Gloucestershire an away trip to face Sussex on either July 24th or 25th.

Northants had been reduced to 31-4 in 8.3 overs when the rain came and justified Hamish Marshall's decision to field first after winning the toss.

By the time conditions were fit for play again Gloucestershire were set the simple task of scoring 23 off five overs, a task they accomplished with 16 balls to spare.

Benny Howell was unbeaten on 12 at the end and Gloucestershire finished runners-up to Somerset in the Midlands/Wales/West Division, having overtaken Warwickshire and Worcestershire, who both lost, on the final day.

It is the first time since 2007 that the Gladiators have reached the last eight and Chief Executive Tom Richardson paid glowing tribute to the players.

"We have a young squad and to reach the quarter-finals this season is a real bonus because they are still developing as a unit," he said.

"Now we are one more good performance away from Finals Day and what a prospect that would be.

"A window of opportunity suddenly opened up in our group following the superb win over Somerset at Taunton and all credit to the players for grabbing their chance."

Skipper Hamish Marshall told this website: "We bowled well at the start against Northants to put them under pressure and in the end that proved decisive.

"We thought some rain was around, but didn't expect such a long break. The target was straightforward when we did get back out there and it's great to be in the last eight.

"Sussex will be tough opponents in the quarter-finals, but when you get this far in a competition you are sure to face one of the best teams.

"There will be more pressure on us in a straight knock-out game, but it is all good experience for our young players and, having won at Taunton, they know how competitive they can be."

A decision will be taken tomorrow on which two quarter-finals will be played on Tuesday July 24th and which two on Wednesday July 25th.

Full quarter-final draw: Somerset v Essex, Notts v Hampshire, Sussex v Gloucestershire, Yorkshire v Worcestershire.

For more details of the match at Northamoton click on Cricket and then Match reports.

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