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MATCH PREVIEW: We're ready to scrap - Dawson

3 May 2017

Head coach Richard Dawson says Sunday's win over Middlesex at Lord's shows that Gloucestershire are capable of being in the scramble for places in the knockout stages of the Royal London One-Day Cup.

The unbroken sixth wicket stand of 192 between Ian Cockbain and Benny Howell pulled around a difficult situation at 65-5 to register the first win in the South group ahead of Thursday's game against Essex at Chelmsford.

"To score at almost ten an over for the last 18 overs was high class batting" Dawson reflected. "Quite often you will see a stand like that put a side in a position to win a game but then fall at the final hurdle so credit to Ian and Benny for finishing it. The way Benny went out put some pressure back on Middlesex and enabled Ian to get his innings started."

"At this time of year in English conditions there's always a chance you'll get early wickets, which showed with what Liam Norwell did for us in the Middlesex innings. You need people down the order who can keep you in the game deep into the second innings and Essex won at Surrey on Tuesday doing that. It's shows how valuable the tail can be."

Dawson has named the same squad of 13 for the third consecutive match, Chris Liddle having been left out on Sunday after feeling some muscle tightness in the warm up.

Squad:

Klinger (c), Mustard, Dent, Cockbain, van Buuren, J. Taylor, Howell, Noema-Barnett, Smith, Miles, Norwell, M.Taylor, Liddle.

Essex began their campaign with a home win over Hampshire, and along with Somerset they have a 100% record so far in the South group. They will also have former England captain Alistair Cook available to open the innings in all eight matches, and Gloucestershire head coach Richard Dawson feels that reflects the strength of their squad.

"They have match winning players throughout the team and they have a decent one day record at Chelmsford" Dawson said. "I know we won there in the T20 last year but a 50 over game is a bit different and if you look at the South group I don't see many easy matches. What we need is the majority of the side making a contribution because it's going to be a scramble to get out of the group and we're ready to scrap to the finish."

Coverage :

You can follow the match via the live scorecard available on the website, or via Twitter @Gloscricket

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