Clydesdale Bank 40: Essex defeated Gloucestershire by six wickets
Essex set up a six wicket victory over Gloucestershire in a floodlit Clydesdale Bank 40 clash played at the County Ground, Bristol on Monday, the 23rd of August. While chasing Gloucestershire’s respectable yet gettable 40 overs total of 184 for 8, Essex, led by Ravi Bopara and Grant Flower – both scoring 45 runs – was taken home in the penultimate over with six wickets still intact.
On the day when most of the Gloucestershire batters were off-colour, James Franklin blazed with the bat on the slow track at County Ground, making an unbeaten 70 runs. However, due to the capitulation of the middle and lower order, the hosts were able to amass a gettable total of 184 for 8. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gloucestershire-c785 began reasonably well before running into a red-hot Chris Wright who scythed through their line-up to finish with three wickets, followed by David Masters and Ryan ten Doeschate, both sharing two wickets each. Off the total eight wickets lost by Gloucestershire, only three managed to get past the 20 run mark. All three succumbed for scores below 35 while the remaining team fell for single digit scores. The target of 188 for 8 was easily chased by Essex for the loss of four wickets with six balls to spare.
Keeping in mind the slow pitch, Eagles skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Alex-Gidman-c984 was the first one to leave the crease in the 8th over after mistiming a Chris Wright delivery straight into the hands of Mark Pettini. Gidman scored 20 runs from 17 balls including two fours to his credit. Gidman was followed back by Porterfield when Wright struck back in his next over, having the Irish skipper caught by Ryan ten Doeschate. William Porterfield’s 34 ball innings added 27 runs to the scorecard including two boundaries.
James Franklin and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Chris-Taylor-c1253 departed in the 16th over, lifting an easy catch to Wheater off Ryan ten Doeschate’s fine delivery. Taylor scored five runs from six balls.
At 65 for 4, Gloucestershire Gladiators were desperate for a big partnership and that’s the time when the fluent James Franklin and wicketkeeper batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Steve-Snell-c2580 took the initiative. A flurry of well-timed boundaries eased the nerves for the hosts. Both the partners played a succession of beautifully timed shots, dragging the side towards a competitive score. The bowling department for the Eagles had to wait for the next 14 overs for another success. The partnership was worth 62 when Ryan ten Doeschate broke it having Snell caught by Mark Pettini. The wicketkeeper batsman scored 32 runs from 52 balls hitting two boundaries as well.
After Snell’s dismissal, Gladiators lost wickets at regular intervals. With wickets clattering at the other end, Franklin batted responsibly, taking the side from 127 to a total of 184 at the end of the innings. Franklin’s unbeaten 77 runs off 88 balls contained two boundaries and a six to his credit.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/David-Payne-c1336 all took one wicket each. The victory has kept Essex in the run to make it to the semi-final of this season’s Clydesdale Bank 40 Cup.
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