News

Klinger looks for Uxbridge improvement

7 July 2018

Vitality T20 Blast captain Michael Klinger says Gloucestershire must produce a more complete performance if they are to register their first win in the competition against Middlesex at Uxbridge on Sunday (2.30).

Having passed 5,000 runs in 20 over cricket across the globe during Friday's defeat at Taunton, Klinger then saw Somerset ruthlessly chase down a victory target of 189 in the first of two local derbies between the teams in the South Group.

"It was the opposite to the back end of last season when our bowlers did a great job and our batting wasn't so good" said Klinger. "Normally you would take 188-6 as a score but you have to give some credit to Somerset for the way they batted, putting pressure back onto our bowlers and fielders. We're normally a better fielding side than that, and we must cope better with that pressure because it's going to happen again throughout the tournament."

It had been Gloucestershire's intention to take the same 14 man squad on duty at Taunton to the Uxbridge Sports Ground, but with Liam Norwell now injured, Chris Liddle has been called up.

Squad :

Klinger (c), Hammond, Cockbain, Hankins, Howell, J.Taylor, Higgins, van Buuren, Perera, Roderick, Smith, Payne, M.Taylor, Liddle.

"Last year we played Graeme van Buuren and Tom Smith there, and it was a close call on Friday between Liam Norwell and Matt Taylor so I'm sure Matt will take his opportunity if he is selected" Klinger added. "We know we have work to do but there is no sense of panic."

Sunday's opponents have already played two games, beating old adversaries Surrey in front of more than 27,000 spectators at Lord's on Thursday before losing in the last over to Essex at Chelmsford on Friday.

Last season's corresponding game was also at Uxbridge, when Ryan Higgins was part of a Middlesex side which won comfortably with Steven Finn taking four wickets.

Finn and Toby Roland Jones are currently injured, and with Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan away with England Higgins feels it's a game Gloucestershire can approach with optimism despite Friday's result.

"I thought we would get past 200 against Somerset but Lewis Gregory bowled well in the 17th and 19th overs so we couldn't do it" said Higgins, whose innings of 55 was the top score. "We batted well and we have to keep our chins up. Obviously I put a catch down - it wasn't a hard one - and I'll be working hard on that on Sunday   morning."

"I watched the Middlesex-Surrey game and they looked an improved T20 side, even compared to last year so we have to take them seriously. They've played three spinners in both their games and Surrey didn't choose the right options against them, so we must do that on a ground which has quite short boundaries square of the wicket."

Coverage:

You can follow the match via the live scorecard available on the website, or via Twitter @Gloscricket.

Ball by ball commentary is also available on the BBC Sport website.

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