Second XI claim incredible victory against Surrey
12 May 2023
Seat Unique Stadium witnessed it's first victory of the season, when Gloucestershire 2nd XI completed a surprise victory against Surrey in the Second XI Championship on Friday lunch time.
Set a challenging target of 277 runs for victory, the hosts completed a thrilling victory with 1 wicket to spare thanks to a phenomenal 101-run 10th wicket stand between Jared Warner and Luke Charlesworth.
Charlesworth was to hit the winning runs, cutting the ball to the boundary for 4 runs, adding to his excellent bowling performance in the Surrey second innings which saw the quick bowler take 5-48 to restrict the hosts to 129 all out.
Owen Dawkins, 2nd XI Coach, said of the victory:
“This win is up there with our best 2nd XI wins. In my 17 years at the Club I’ve never seen a last-wicket century partnership to win the match, and to do so against a strong Surrey side, on a good wicket that had something in it for the bowlers, was a tremendous effort.
“It is really encouraging for the Club to see a number of personal bests in this match. Jared Warner and Luke Charlesworth hit their highest scores in that winning partnership, but Luke also took his first second XI five-for. Zaman Akhter bowled with huge control in a spell of 2-7 off 8 overs, and we were indebted to Ed Middleton’s 40* in the first innings."
Defeat looked inevitable when Luke Charlesworth walked to the wicket at 177-9 with Gloucestershire requiring a further 100 runs for victory, but the 10th wicket pair played positively and without fear to claim the points as Jared Warner finished 83 not out and Luke Charlesworth was unbeaten on 34.
The second XI take to the field again next Tuesday when focus switches to the T20 championship and the side travel to Warwickshire for the start of the new white-ball campaign.
