da cassino： Gloucestershire leap-frogged Glamorgan and Surrey to go top of Division Oneof the National League as they defeated the Welsh county by 7 wickets with 7 ballsto spare in an enthralling contest at Cheltenham College
Andrew Hignell27-Jul-2003Gloucestershire leap-frogged Glamorgan and Surrey to go top of Division Oneof the National League as they defeated the Welsh county by 7 wickets with 7 ballsto spare in an enthralling contest at Cheltenham College.Overnight rain delayed the start and meant that it was a 38 overs a side contest.With the wicket likely to turn, Robert Croft won an important toss and elected to bat,but James Averis dismissed both openers, Croft and Maher, as Glamorgan slumped to 24-2after 6 overs.Michael Powell, with the support of Jonathan Hughes, in only his second game in thecompetition, then added 50 for the third wicket, before further innings of 39 from bothMatthew Maynard, in his 250th League appearance, and later Adrian Dale. Mark Hardingesstifled Glamorgan`s progress with 3 wickets, and then Mike Smith returned to claim 2in his final two overs as Glamorgan were dismissed for 197 with four balls remaining.Needing to score at a shade over 5 an over, Gloucestershire suffered an early blow even beforetheir innings began, as Jonty Rhodes sustained a hamstring injury whilst fielding. But theiropeners, Philip Weston and Craig Spearman, raised morale in the home camp with a positiveopening stand, as the Glamorgan seamers proved to be less effective than theircounterparts and the score was already on 46 in only the 9th over when Michael Kasprowiczdismissed Craig Spearman.Alex Gidman maintained the assertive approach adding 56 for the second wicket, butGloucestershire`s rapid progress was halted by some steady spin bowling from Robert Croftand Dean Cosker. Croft dismissed Weston for 35, but Matthew Windows then came in to joinGidman, and they had added a further 41 before Alex Wharf bowled Gidman for an impressive49.Gloucestershire still needed 60 from the final 10 overs, but Matthew Windows, with thesupport of Shoaib Malik, calmly saw Gloucestershire home, with Windows reaching a match-winninghalf-century from 65 balls.