Klinger and Tye seal ideal Festival finale
27 July 2018
A captain's innings of 77 not out by Michael Klinger and 3-17 in four tight overs from Andrew Tye were the backbone of a fourth Vitality T20 Blast win of the season for Gloucestershire on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Opponents Glamorgan looked handily placed on 102-3 at the half way stage, but helped by some excellent catching wickets fell steadily after Ryan Higgins took a low caught and bowled chance to remove Colin Ingram for 38.
Gloucestershire, for a few hours at least, move to the top of the South Group and now have a positive net run rate to take into three away games next week, including a visit to Sophia Gardens.
Watch Andrew Tye's post match thoughts on the win here:
POST MATCH REACTION: Andrew Tye with his thoughts after taking 3-17 in today's @VitalityBlast win by 30 runs over @GlamCricket at the Cheltenham Festival 👏 pic.twitter.com/vYiHcAhHsb
— Gloucestershire CCC (@Gloscricket) July 27, 2018
In front of a sell out crowd, and in scorching conditions more akin to Perth than the College Ground, Gloucestershire made one change to the team selected against Essex seven days earlier with Benny Howell fit to return in place of Graeme van Buuren.
A fan of chasing a total at Cheltenham, skipper Michael Klinger didn't have the choice after Colin Ingram won the toss asked Gloucestershire to bat. The powerplay was set in motion by Miles Hammond pulling Ruaidhri Smith's second ball over the boundary at mid wicket, and he'd made 34 out of 43 including two further sixes when a delivery from van der Gugten grazed his off stump.
Klinger shared the strike with Ian Cockbain as Gloucestershire scored steadily to half way, but they were checked by three wickets in seven balls, the first - Cockbain for 26 - down to a smart stumping from Chris Cooke off Andrew Salter. Noema-Barnett and Howell went cheaply, which left Ryan Higgins and Klinger to rebuild from 98-4.
In the earlier win at Uxbridge, Klinger made 56 and saw Gloucestershire to the brink of victory, and a good total here again appeared to hinge on him anchoring the innings. The clean hitting Ryan Higgins was an ideal partner and the pair added 53 in 6.2 overs, Klinger rotaing the strike to complete a 38 ball half century, and Higgins powering straight sixes off Wagg and van der Gugten until Colin Ingram ran him out for 30 with a direct hit in the 17th over.
Jack Taylor and Andrew Tye added three further sixes ahead of the last over, when Klinger masterfully showed what can be done at the end of an innings. A scoop, a cut, a pull over mid wicket and a glance to long leg brought 18 runs, and when Klinger scampered two off the final ball the captain had contributed 77 not out in a total of 197-8.
Pre-match Klinger had warned about the strength of Glamorgan's top order, and the way Khawaja and Donald started make the crowd shuffle nervously in their seats. Donald took two fours and a six from David Payne's opening over, and although he redeemed himself with a fine return catch the momentum was kept going as Ingram joined Khawaja and took 20 off four balls in Payne's third over.
A six and two further boundaries from Khawaja in the final powerplay over from Noema-Banrett put Glamorgan well ahead of Gloucestershire at the same stage and it became clear wickets were the quickest way to rebalance the game.
To do that Klinger turned to Tom Smith, and the dependable spinner did the trick as Khawaja (33) played a paddle sweep straight to Payne at deep square leg. In the next over, Smith was involved again, holding another catch in the deep off Benny Howell to send back Joe Burns, and not to be outdone Ryan Higgins matched Payne's earlier effort to remove the dangerous Ingram for 38.
It left Glamorgan needing 84 from the last eight overs, a steep asking rate when Michael Klinger still had three overs from Andrew Tye up his sleeve, and his team mate from the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash preceeded to button up the game with a fine exhibition of T20 bowling.
Carlson and Cooke both tried to hit him straight down the ground, only to find the safe hands of Ian Cockbain and substitute fielder Chris Dent respectively, and when Andrew Salter clipped Tye to Klinger at extra cover he had taken 3-15 in his last three overs.
Ryan Higgins completed an excellent personal Festival with the wickets of Wagg and van der Gugten to add figures of 3-30 to his useful runs earlier in the day, and Gloucestershire leave Cheltenham well placed to push hard for a quarter final spot.
