Nervy finish Price stays calm to close out a narrow victory
GLOUCESTERSHIRE held their nerve in the final over against Durham to claim a six-run Royal London Cup victory at the Riverside.
Tom Price took 4-70 to deny the home side, who in a valiant effort in their chase of 368 courtesy of a 38-ball knock of 77 from Paul Coughlin.
There was almost late drama from Price in the final over, but the seamer held his composure to prevent an incredible comeback.
Chris Dent’s fifth List A century saw Gloucestershire post a daunting 367 from their 50 overs.
Dent received vital support from Marcus Harris in a partnership of 172, with the Aussie falling short of his ton with 94.
After being put in, Dent and Ben Wells were both dropped before Coughlin removed Wells for 39.
But Dent and Harris took the attack to the Durham bowlers, particularly the spin of Scott Borthwick, and Harris appeared to be on his way to three figures, but his attempt to clear the rope against Liam Trevaskis cost him his wicket for 94 when Nic Maddinson claimed a good low catch.
Gloucestershire’s quest for quick runs sparked a collapse from 282 for two to 325 for seven as Dent departed for 117, while James Bracey and Jack Taylor fell for 31 and 24 respectively.
Oli Price provided late power with a 19-ball knock of 31, including 18 runs off Gibson’s final over.
Durham made a measured start in their reply as openers Graham Clark and Jonathan Bushnell worked their way to a 50 partnership.
However, both openers fell to Tom Price after making starts, elevating the run rate and increasing the pressure on the rest of the Durham ranks.
Maddinson and Borthwick stabilised the innings with a stand of 67, but the two players were always under duress to raise the run rate.
Zafar Gohar turned the game in Gloucestershire’s favour by breaking the partnership to bowl Maddinson through the gate before Borthwick’s attempt at a slog down the ground resulted in his dismissal to the leftarmer for 45.
Dickson provided impetus scoring two sixes in his 33-ball 40, but he missed a straight one from Gohar to be pinned lbw.
The required rate climbed to 12 runs per over and the pressure told as Trevaskis was the next wicket to fall for 43.
Coughlin and Tomas Mackintosh provided late drama, sparking the run chase back into life with a brisk partnership worth 70.
Coughlin notched his maiden List A half-century from only 25 balls, taking the game into the last over with three sixes.
Durham required 19 off the final over against Tom Price, but he removed Coughlin and managed to hold his nerve, despite bowling a no-ball from the penultimate delivery, steering his side to a narrow win.
Dent said: “It was obviously a good game of cricket for the neutral. We were pleased with the score we got on the board and we probably could have scored more.
“We bowled very well and we got them four down, and it looked as though it would be quite comfortable.
“In the end it didn’t happen, and Coughlin played very well, but it was a good test for us to feel those nerves and for our death bowlers to get a chance to close out a game and win it.
“If you win a game by 200 runs you don’t really learn a lot, it was a really good day out for us and we were really pleased to get over the line.
“I was pleased to get a hundred, I struggled a bit in the first four games but other guys got runs, which was fantastic. I was happy just to be able to contribute to a team win.”