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    REPORT : Kieran crashes Gloucestershire to derby win

    4 August 2017

    A blistering 33 from only 12 deliveries from Kieran Noema-Barnett accelerated Gloucestershire towards tw0 Nat West T20 Blast points in front of a sell out crowd at the Brightside Ground.

    After Phil Mustard, Michael Klinger and Ian Cockbain manoeuvred Gloucestershire into a position where they required 45 from the last six overs, Noema Barnett struck four sixes - two each off van Meekeren and van der Merwe - before being caught on the boundary trying to finish the match with another big hit.

    It was Jack Taylor who struck the winning blow - another six, this time off Gregory - as Gloucestershire successfully chased 147 to win after dismissing Somerset for 146. The result, plus others on the night, lifts Gloucestershire to second in the South Group table.

     

    The story of the evening wasn't confined to the action on the field. Somerset were caught in traffic and only arrived at 6.30pm after a journey of more than four hours from Taunton. As a result, the start was delayed by 45 minutes and Michael Klinger, leading an unchanged Gloucestershire side, had no hesitation in fielding first after winning the toss.

    Somerset's innings was a curious affair. The powerplay became dominated by Johann Myburgh, who came in at number four after openers Davies and Gregory played loose shots and perished in David Payne's first two overs. The introduction of Tom Smith saw the South African strike four successive fours and a six as the left arm spinner struggled to bowl the right length with a short off side boundary. He'd made 42 out of 67 when Payne safely pouched a catch in the deep in Benny Howell's first over, and the middle order crumbled behind him.

    5 wickets fell for 23 runs in 6 overs as Smith responded well to his earlier onslaught, Howell tied up the other end and Abell and Hildreth in particular pressed the self destruct button. Allenby had tried to play the anchor role but when he was given out caught behind in Jack Taylor's first over for 21, respectability for Somerset was left to their bowlers.

    Craig Overton ensured they had a total to work this, marshalling a stand of 34 for the ninth wicket with Max Waller and then striking two sixes in the penultimate over, bowled by David Payne. When Perera splattered van Meekeren's stumps, Somerset has mustered 146 and Overton was left 33 not out. Only Matt Taylor was left without a wicket and Howell's figures of 2-15 came from four overs where he didn't concede a boundary.

    With knowledge of what they were chasing, Gloucestershire's regular openers Klinger and Mustard set about building a sensible base by punishing anything loose. Gregory started with a no ball, Mustard hit the first legal delivery for four and Klinger pulled the same bowler into the hospitality area at mid wicket before the powerplay was over.

    Mustard had by that stage been missed, Overton putting down a caught and bowled chance, but the introduction of van der Merwe saw him depart for 29, Overton taking the catch in front of the apartments.

    From 48-1, Klinger - after being struck on the body by the lively van Meekeren - and Ian Cockbain continued the even pace of the innings for a further seven overs, the Gloucestershire skipper driving van der Merwe for a trademark straight six. Leg spinner Waller was despatched into the pavilion by Cockbain, and when he repeated the shot against Overton Gloucestershire appeared to be cruising until, with six overs left, van der Merwe got Klinger in a tangle and bowled him for 35.

    A tidy over from van Meekeren raised the target to 42 from the final five overs, at which point Kieran Noema-Barnett took centre stage. Cockbain had looked well set for a measured half century before the powerful left hander gave himself room to cleanly strike two big sixes in van Meekeren's last over and follow them with two more over mid wicket off van der Merwe.

    His dismissal, having made 33 in the blink of an eye, marginally delayed matters but Jack Taylor and Ian Cockbain, who continued a series of consistent contributions with 47 not out, sealed the points by seven wickets with 10 balls to spare.

     

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