Surrey Lions v Gloucestershire Gladiators
Friends Provident t20. South Group.
At The Oval
By Richard Latham
Ian Butler claimed 3-8 as Gloucestershire blew Surrey away with a devastating t20 performance at The Oval.
The 28-year-old Kiwi pace bowler kick-started his second spell with the club by removing Steve Davies, Younis Khan and Jade Dernbach as the Lions were skittled for just 97 in 18.1 overs.
Then Will Porterfield and James Franklin smashed their way to the required target in only 9.5 overs to complete the most comprehensive of victories.
Alex Gidman chose to field first and had it not been for opener Rory Hamilton-Brown, who made 41 off 39 balls with 6 fours, Surrey would have taken an even bigger hammering.
They were 17-5 at one point with Mark Ramprakash falling to Anthony Ireland and Andrew Symonds to Jon Lewis, both having contributed only a single.
Matthew Spriegel helped Hamilton-Brown launch some sort of recovery with a stand of 44, but when the latter was run out by Hamish Marshall with the total on 61 the result was already in little doubt.
Franklin bowled Chris Schofield and ran out Chris Tremlett to add to the Lions' woes and Gloucestershire could reflect on bowling superbly as a unit, even without the injured Steve Kirby.
Porterfield and Franklin batted as if they were chasing a more normal t20 total and shared 12 fours, while Porterfield also smacked 2 sixes.
The Irishman took just 31 balls to make his undefeated 47, while Franklin faced 29 for his 41 not out.
None of the Surrey bowlers could make any impression and what was an embarrassing night for their team.
It was also an early night for their disgruntled supporters as the Gladiators emerged triumphant from the Lions' den in a manner they could scarcely have dreamed of.
