Despite half-centuries by Kiran Carlson and Eddie Byrom, Gloucestershire dented Glamorgan’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup as they defeated the Welsh county by five wickets at Sophia Gardens.
After their stirring victory against the Sussex Sharks at Hove, Glamorgan have risen into fifth place in the table, with Gloucestershire’s record-breaking victory against Somerset in the West Country derby at Bristol on Sunday afternoon lifting them into third spot in the group table. The outcome of today’s match could therefore be crucial in determining who qualifies for the knockout stages.
Glamorgan made one change to their line-up which defeated the Sharks, with Dan Douthwaite replacing Tom Bevan so it was Sam Northeast who opened with Eddie Byrom as the Welsh county opted to bat first.
The visitors opted to use the spin of Zafar Gohar in tandem with Tom Price, with Northeast striking the day’s first boundary as he square-drove Zafar before cover-driving Tom Price. After some quiet reconnaissance, Byrom straight-drove Price for four before Northeast clipped the seamer to the ropers at fine-leg. His next boundary though was more fortuitous as he outside edged Paul van Meekeren’s first delivery and bisected the wicket-keeper and first slip.
Byrom then unfurled a languid drive through mid-on against Price as Glamorgan reached the fifty mark in the 12th over, but next over Northeast edged a pull against van Meekeren with Bracey completing the catch behind the stumps. Colin Ingram made his way to the middle and started by punching the Dutch international off the back foot through extra-cover, but next ball he edged to first slip where Olly Price completed the regulation catch.
Kiran Carlson joined Byrom and began with a series of singles as Zafar briefly returned to the attack, before Graeme van Buuren had a short spell at the Cathedral Road End. There was then a switch beck to seam as Anwar Ali had a foray at the River End and was square-cut for four by Carlson as the hundred came up in the 24th over before van Meekeren had a second spell and was on-driven by Byrom before Carlson pulled a short ball to mid-wicket.
Carlson also square-cut van Meekeren for four before Byrom completed his fifty from 82 balls. Carlson then drilled Anwar through mid-off for four before harpooning Zafar for six over deep mid-wicket. He then greeted the return of Price by majestically cover-driving him before flicking him to fine-leg as he completed a 45-ball fifty as well as the century stand. Byrom then nurdled Price for four to third but later in the over he clipped the seamer into the hands of Chris Dent at mid-wicket.
168-3 saw Ben Kellaway join Carlson and the new batter began by lofting Tom Smith to wide long-on for four, before nurdling van Buuren for four through point.
But with the total on 185 Carlson chipped a ball back to van Buuren and was caught and bowled, with his departure being the first of six wickets to tumble for 32 runs in the space of 12.1 overs. The stutter continued two runs later, Kellaway departed l.b.w. sweeping at Smith before, with the total on 196, Dan Douthwaite flat batted a ball from Smith into the covers where Ben Wells took a fine diving catch. Timm van der Gugten then drilled van Buuren for a straight six to bring up the 200 but next over Zain ul Hassan was stumped advancing down the wicket to Zafar before two balls later van der Gugten was bowled playing back to van Buuren. Two runs later, Horton did the same against Zafar before Prem Sisodiya was caught and bowled by van Buuren as Glamorgan ended on 217.
Bracey and Dent began Gloucestershire’s reply with the latter square-cutting van der Gugten but Jamie McIlroy struck with his fifth delivery as Dent chipped a catch to Northeast at short mid-wicket. 8-1 saw Olly Price join Bracey who straight drove the Dutch international before square-driving him for another boundary. Price began by on-driving and pulling successive balls from van der Gugten for four with Bracey also elegantly flicking McIlroy to fine-leg.
Carlson entered the attack in the 9th over and was reverse-swept for four by Price before being swept for a pair of orthodox fours in his second over by Price who then swept Sisodiya for four when the left-arm spinner entered the attack at Cathedral Road End. But Sisodiya struck in his third over as he bowled Bracey as the left-hander attempted a sweep. 70-2 saw Ben Wells join Price and the new batter duly struck his first delivery through extra-cover for four.
Price then pulled Carlson for four before completing a series of singles with Wells, besides on-driving Douthwaite for a single to complete his fifty from 51 balls as Gloucestershire reached the 100-mark in the 24th over. But two runs later, Kellaway entered the attack and bowled Wells as he attempted to cut the teenage off-spinner. van Buuren began with a booming off-drive against Douthwaite who was also pulled for four by Price.
Sisodiya switched to the River End to bowl in tandem with fellow Old Cliftonian Kellaway and was clattered through the covers by van Buuren before the two batters quietly worked the ball around for singles. Price also swept Sisodiya for four before, with the total on 148, Kellway bowled van Buuren as he inside-edged a drive onto his stumps.
Jack Taylor announced his arrival by drilling Kellaway through mid-off for four before Price cover-drove Sisodiya, but Kellaway gained his third wicket as Taylor looked to loft the youngster over long-on only to hole out to Ingram. 160-5 saw Tom Price join his brother and after several overs of watchful defence he lofted Kellaway over long-on for six as Gloucestershire entered the last ten overs needing 48 to win.
Tom drilled Kellaway through mid-off for four before Olly clipped van der Gugten to fine-leg for four. Tom also pulled the Dutchman to the ropes at mid-wicket before Olly reached his hundred in the grand manner by drilling Carlson over long-on for six - his 107th delivery and 12th boundary. Tom then drove Carlson over extra-cover for four before Olly pulled him to fine-leg. Tom then ended the game by cover-driving Douthwaite as Gloucestershire reached their target with five wickets and 23 balls to spare.