Match preview | Durham v Glos | Royal London Cup
11 August 2022
Gloucestershire travel to Durham for their fifth match of this season’s Royal London Cup with both teams knowing a win would put them in contention for qualification from Group A and the knockout stages of the 50-over tournament.
The Shire go into the game full of confidence after beating Notts Outlaws by five wickets at the Seat Unique Stadium on Wednesday.
James Bracey and Jack Taylor’s brilliant partnership of 179 steered the home side to victory in what was the club’s highest ever List A run chase in Bristol.
The stand was the second highest List A fifth wicket partnership in Glos history, beaten only by Ramnaresh Sarwan and Mark Hardinges’ partnership of 221* against Lancashire in 2005.
Captain Taylor and vice-captain Bracey were supported in the chase by Marcus Harris; the Australian scoring 48 from 43 batting at three.
The Glos bowling unit did well to keep Notts under 300 on a good batting surface in Bristol. There were again wickets for spinners Tom Smith, Zafar Gohar and Taylor, while strike bowlers Jared Warner and Paul van Meekeren also picked up wickets at important times.
Durham also face a long day of travelling back up to the North East today after their victory against Somerset in Taunton on Wednesday, where Somerset captain Ben Green’s 157 was not enough to chase down Durham’s 342.
The win was Durham’s first in the competition and was enough to keep them above Somerset in eighth position in Group A, while Glos’ triumph against Notts lifted The Shire to fourth.
Durham vs Gloucestershire | Royal London Cup | Watch every ball on the Gloscricket Match Centre HERE | 11am Start Time
Dale Benkenstein has selected a 14-man squad for the clash at the Seat Unique Riverside, with teenage all-rounder Will Naish dropping out.
Opener Chris Dent continues to search for his first score in the 2022 Royal London Cup, while partner Ben Wells will be looking to replicate the form that saw him knock 76 against Warwickshire earlier this month.
Ben Charlesworth is pushing for a first start of the tournament and has fond memories of playing Durham. Last time out vs Friday’s opponents, Charlesworth hit 87 away at Scarborough to help Glos claim victory in the 2021 season.
Youngsters Ollie Price and Dom Goodman keep their places, as do opening bowlers Josh Shaw and Tom Price.
Here's your 14-man Gloucestershire squad that travels to Durham:
The sides last faced each other in 50-over competition during last season’s Royal London Cup, when Charlesworth’s 87 and 90 from James Bracey earned Glos a four-wicket win.
Durham vs Gloucestershire | Royal London Cup | Watch every ball on the Gloscricket Match Centre HERE | 11am Start Time
