Skipper Strikes Ton In First Victory
3 May 2013
Michael Klinger led from the front with a century as his Gloucestershire team completed a first LV=County Championship win of the season by nine wickets over Leicestershire at Grace Road.
Starting the final day on 16 without loss and needing a further 172 to win, the visitors reached their target in mid afternoon, with Klinger making top score of 103 not out in a total of 191-1.
The skipper brought up his ton with the winning hit, a boundary off Shiv Thakor to finish the game at 2.45pm.
Chris Dent contributed 71, including 9 fours, to an opening stand of 129 before falling lbw to Jigar Naik in the final over before lunch.
By then Klinger was unbeaten on 57 and Gloucestershire required only another 59. The Australian cut loose after the interval and ended up with 16 fours and a six in his 172-ball innings.
Dan Housego provided unselfish support to see his captain to three figures, making 16 not out off 61 balls.
Gloucestershire took 21 points to Leicestershire's five and moved up to third in the Second Division table prior to the outcome of Glamorgan's game with Lancashire.
After the game Michael Klinger told this website: "It was nice for me to make a contribution, but the great thing was that we did to Leicestershire what Northants did to us last week.
"That shows the players are learning. We bowled tremendously well as a unit and, while Benny Howell and Will Gidman took most of the wickets, they received fantastic support from David Payne, Craig Miles and Jack Taylor.
"We would have batted had we won the toss and restricting Leicestershire to 250 on the opening day really set the game up for us.
"We knew the first session today would be all important and, to be honest, Chris Dent played a lot more fluently than I did in making sure we put together a really meaningful partnership.
"I struggled for my first 20 or 30 runs and, while I am delighted to have made my first century for the club, I take even more pleasure out of the team performance."
For more details on the final day click on Match Reports
Leicestershire and Gloucestershire meet again in the opening Yorkshire Bank 40 fixture of the season at Grace Road tomorrow.
