Glo’sters surge into Finals Day
GLOUCESTERSHIRE romped into their first T20 Finals Day since 2007 with a seven-wicket Vitality Blast quarter-final thumping of Northamptonshire yesterday.
The visitors could post only 113 all out after winning the toss, Tom Taylor top-scoring with 27, as Benny Howell claimed three for 16 and Ryan Higgins three for 24.
In reply, Gloucestershire breezed to 114 for three with more than eight overs to spare, Chris Dent leading the way with 40 and Ian Cockbain contributing an unbeaten 30.
Gloucestershire have now won eight of their last nine Blast games, and need fear no one in Saturday’s Finals Day at Edgbaston.
There were two wickets each for David Payne as the hosts produced a T20 masterclass in supporting skilful bowling with immaculate fielding on a sunny and crisp October day.
They were all over the Northants batsmen from the opening over of the game, which saw Paul Stirling caught at midwicket off Payne’s fifth delivery without scoring. Only two boundaries were scored in the first six-over powerplay, which also saw Richard Levi depart for 14, bowled by spinner Van Buuren, and ended with Northamptonshire 29 for two.
Tom Smith and Howell then applied the mid-innings squeeze on the batsmen, which has become Gloucestershire’s trademark. Josh Cobb was bowled aiming a big hit off Howell, who also sent back Adam Rossington, caught off a skier.
At the midway point, Northants were becalmed on 53 for four. Smith finished his four overs, having conceded just 24 runs.
Rob Keogh became Howell’s third victim and Van Buuren bowled Saif Zaib. When Luke Procter, on 18, drove a catch to cover off Higgins it was 80 for seven.
Taylor at last cleared the ropes with two defiant sixes off Higgins, who claimed two of the last three wickets as the Steelbacks’ sorry innings, which ended in the final over and featured only five fours.
That did not deter Gloucestershire opener Miles Hammond, who reverse swept a six off only the second delivery of his side’s reply, bowled by Cobb.
As if contemptuous of the target, Hammond and Dent wasted no time going on the attack and took the score to 30 after three overs, 13 from the third, bowled by Taylor. The pair had put together a stand of 48 in only 4.3 overs when Nathan Buck had Hammond (20) caught at mid-off.
After six overs the scoreboard read 59 for one, with only 55 needed. Dent fell with the total on 74, caught off Graeme White, having faced 25 balls and hit six fours and a six.
James Bracey fell cheaply to White, but Cockbain is among the leading scorers in the competition and runs were soon flowing again.
The 33-year-old has never looked in better form than this season and scored his runs off 20 balls, with four fours. Higgins finished the game with four successive boundaries off White as Gloucestershire reached their target in just 11.5 overs.
All-rounder Howell said: “That’s the stuff dreams are made of. We were right up for it from ball one and determined to reach Finals Day.
“We will go to Edgbaston fearing no one because we are playing some fantastic T20 cricket. We are going there to win.”