Tense finish as Glos beat Middlesex to go top.

Gloucestershire gave a surprise debut to Australian Brendan Drew, and after Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat first, made the best possible start with Lewis & Kirby bowling with accuracy and getting movement off the wicket to reduce Middlesex to 15-3. Andrew Strauss was caught behind for a duck to the first ball he received from Lewis.

After 12 overs Middlesex were still struggling and scoring at less than two an over, but the introduction of debutant Drew into the attack released much of the pressure created. Australian Drew was somewhat of a surprise selection, apparently getting the nod over Alex Gidman and Steve Snell, either of whom could have replaced Marcus North.  We have to assume there was a lack of confidence in Hardinges, Brown & Dawson bowling eight reasonably economic overs each, even though Marshall and Taylor would also have been available. Drew was clearly “ring-rusty” and his seven wicketless overs cost 50 runs, almost twice as many as any of the others. The mystery was why Lewis allowed him to bowl 7 overs, bearing in mind Hardinges, Brown & Dawson all had overs in hand.

Anyway, some good batting by Morgan (82), backed up by Malan, Berg and Udal in vital stands, saw Middlesex reach the creditable total of 183-9 after their 40 overs. Kirby & Lewis came back to bowl their last two overs each and prevented Middlesex doing even better. Lewis finished with 2-25 after bowling danger man Morgan, and Kirby did even better with 4-27.

Glos began their reply in confident mood and the early loss of Kadeer Ali, caught behind off Henderson, only served to increase the scoring rate as in-form Hardinges joined Marshall.  The two scored at 5 and 6 over without any difficulty against the pace attack of Murtagh, Henderson & Finn, and it took the introduction of spinners Kartik & Udal to slow the rate down as a succession of wickets fell quickly. Glos slumped from 83-1 to 93-4 and then 113-5. Spearman, who played a completely unnecessary reverse sweep, and Taylor who had an ugly swipe at Kartik, both after facing only a handful of deliveries, should feel embarrassed.  With Glos playing a batsman light, this increased the pressure on Marshall and his next couple of partners, Brown & Adshead. Fortunately, Marshall looked in prime form and added small, but useful runs with both of them, taking Glos to 143-6 when Adshead played onto Finn. Drew appearing at no. 8, ahead of Dawson, was another surprise, and he soon fell to Udal for 4. But Marshall was playing beautifully and always managed to pierce the field sufficiently to score enough runs to keep Glos up with the target.

Nevertheless, for the first time Glos required more than a run a ball with 24 off less than four overs and the nerves were jangling.  Well, mine were!  Dawson decided it was time to go on the offensive and straight-drove the returning Murtagh for 6. This seemed to release any tension and Marshall went to a well-deserved century with a straight six that was almost caught. Dawson, badly missed behind by Scott, then slammed Henderson for another boundary to reach the target with eight balls to spare. 

Apart from Hamish Marshall’s magnificent century, only Hardinges (24), Brown and Dawson (17 not out) reached double figures.  The latter three also bowled well enough with Dawson taking 2-29 from his six overs. For Middlesex, Kartik and Udal bowled particularly well, but Murtagh, Henderson & Finn were just a little too expensive and in the end that was the difference between the sides.

Glos go top of the table after this win and know if they win their last two games against Worcs and Durham, they have every chance of winning the league.