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Klinger century in vain as Glos fall short against Essex

11 June 2015

A magnificent hundred from Michael Klinger wasn’t enough to stop Gloucestershire falling to an 18 run defeat against the Essex Eagles in the NatWest T20 Blast.

Under the floodlights at Chelmsford the hosts exacted revenge for their 34 run loss at earlier this season after setting a total of 181and restricting the visitors to 163-8.

But Ryan Ten Doeschate’s side were almost undone by a familiar foe.

Klinger made Gloucestershire’s record T20 score of 126 not out to help his side beat Essex in Bristol and if anything his unbeaten 104 in this match was an even more impressive innings.

With wickets falling at regular intervals throughout the run chase he almost singlehandedly pulled the team over the line.

His innings - which came off 64 balls with 10 fours and three sixes - combined guile and power and was so good that even the opposing fans took to their feet to applaud after he launched Shaun Tait out of the ground to bring up his century.

It continued a remarkable run of form since re-joining the county and speaking after the game he said he hoped it would help further his prospects of representing Australia.

To listen to the post-match interview click below.

Earlier in the evening, having been put in to bat, Essex openers Mark Pettini and Jesse Ryder started in impressive fashion, and reached 23-0 after three overs.

But the innings took off with the introduction of Jack Taylor in the fourth.

The offspinner went for 27 in his first over with five wides and Pettini striking four fours and a six to help Essex race to 46-0 and Pettini to 30.

Having watched the fireworks from the other end, Ryder attempted to join in but flicked the ball straight to Howell off the first ball of the next over from David Payne.

Payne couldn’t return the favour, spilling a catch from Tom Westley off Howell at long off in an eventful seventh over.

The 13^th over saw the introduction of Kieran Noema-Barnett and he ended a stand of 68 with his first ball, getting the prize wicket of Pettini stumped for 68 (44 balls, 10 fours, one six).

In the next over Smith had Westley (23) caught by Dent off his first ball before trapping Ravi Bopara (3) LBW with his second. A second successive hat trick v Essex looked in the offing but new man Ryan Ten Doeschate survived.

Smith became the country’s leading wicket-taker in this year’s T20 Blast in his next over when he had Browne stumped at the second attempt by Jones.

From 118-1 after 12 overs, Essex found themselves reduced to 131-5 at the end of the sixteenth after Smith (3-36) had Nick Browne stumped for 3.

Ten Doeschate looked dangerous but his innings was ended by an exceptional piece of fielding by Geraint Jones.

An attempted lap sweep from Foster saw the ball ricochet off the pad and into the leg side but quick as a flash Jones raced after the ball, removed his glove, turned and threw down the stumps in one motion leaving the Essex skipper short of his crease having made 21.

Two successive sixes from Napier (16) softened the blow but a flurry of late wickets helped restrict the home side to 181.

Payne (2-25) had Foster (21)caught at long off in the 19^th over before Glos picked up the final three in the last over. First Fuller (2-22) sent Napier’s off stump cartwheeling before yorking  Velani.

The final wicket was fell on the last ball when Tait set off for a single but was sent back only to be run out by Jones.

In reply Glos lost Dent in the second over for 5 and were unable to build a significant partnership as wickets fell with regularity.

Coming together at 56-4 in the ninth over Noema-Barnett (10) and Klinger put on 33 to give their side hope. But when the former was stumped by Foster off Westley (2-27) in the 12^th and Howell and Taylor were bowled by consecutive balls from Graham Napier (3-30) in the next over, it looked all over for the visitors.

James Fuller (26*) kept his captain company, sharing in a stand of 71 but with 45 needed from the last two overs it was always going to be a tough ask.

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