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Klinger leads from the front as Glos cruise to victory and YB40 hopes alive

13 August 2013

Gloucestershire captain Michael Klinger has set his sights on finishing top of Group C following his side’s convincing seven-wicket win over Leicestershire at Bristol.

A sixth win in nine games in the Yorkshire Bank 40 moved Gloucestershire up to second place, level on points with leaders Somerset, but with a game in hand.

Victory over Middlesex at Lord’s on Thursday could take Gloucestershire clear at the top, while another win against Glamorgan in Bristol on Sunday would set-up a potentially decisive finale against Somerset at Nevil Road on August 26.

Although Gloucestershire could also make the semi-finals as the best second-placed team, Klinger wants to win the group and guarantee qualification.

He told this website: “I’m not really thinking about finishing second. I think we’ll just finish top and leave the others to worry about second place.

“Every game is tough and we still have to play Middlesex, Glamorgan and Somerset, who can all qualify themselves.

“We’ve put ourselves in with a chance and we have to make sure we front up with the same intensity and sharpness in the next game against Middlesex.”

Michael heaped praise on Gloucestershire’s bowlers after Leicestershire were dismissed for 163 in 35.2 overs.

Fast bowlers James Fuller, Craig Miles and David Payne took two wickets apiece and Michael said: “Our bowlers need to take all the accolades today. They really stepped up to the plate and set things up for us.

“We had a good discussion after losing to Somerset and not playing too well at the weekend and they responded extremely well.

“They bowled hard ball right from the start and bowled a lot straighter. That is exactly what we asked for from them and they put Leicestershire under a lot of pressure.

“I thought anything just over 200 would have been tricky to chase and would have meant going harder against the new ball, which could have been more dangerous.”

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