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Worcestershire Royals v Gloucestershire Gladiators
12/06/2012
Worcestershire v Gloucestershire
Clydesdale Bank 40, Group A
New Road, Worcester
Gloucestershire gave their Clydesdale Bank 40 campaign a boost after an impressive performance with bat and ball by Will Gidman helped them record a crushing 109-run victory over Worcestershire at New Road on Sunday.
The 27-year-old all-rounder made his first limited-overs half-century in the Gladiators’ total of 238 for six and then took 2-10 as the Royals limped to 129 all out after losing half their side for just 25.
Worcestershire’s lowest 40-over score of 86 was looking some way off until left handers James Cameron (35) and Gareth Andrew (23) mustered a face-saving partnership of 46 with the help of a couple of fielding lapses by Gloucestershire.
The failure of the frontline batsman was due to good, accurate seam bowling and a sluggish pitch which consistently shackled the stroke-makers.
When Vikram Solanki drove to mid-on in Gidman’s third over, he set the pattern for a dramatic collapse.
Moeen Ali edged a flashing drive off James Fuller and Phil Hughes, after successive CB40 centuries against county opposition, was one of two victims in a lively spell by left-arm seamer David Payne.
Cameron was the only specialist batsman to survive for any length of time but he was brilliantly caught by Kane Williamson, back-pedalling towards long on for off-spinner Jack Taylor’s first success in a spell of 2-21.
Earlier, it was the Gidman brothers, with fifties of contrasting styles, who underpinned a Gloucestershire innings that came to life when the last seven overs produced 64 runs.
Left-hander Will continued his adjustment to a new role as a one-day opener with only three fours in making 76 from 98 balls and Alex launched the late surge with a 6-4-4-6 sequence off successive deliveries from Andrew.
Those were the first boundaries in 16 overs as Gloucestershire finally tired of picking off singles on the stodgy surface.
Hamish Marshall’s early rush was quickly halted when he scooped a straightforward catch to deep square leg and Benny Howell was barely under way when Hughes held a more difficult chance at point.
Both wickets fell to the emerging left-arm seamer Jack Shantry, and at the end of the innings he took his CB40 tally to 14 wickets in six games this season after yorking Alex Gidman for 59.
Shantry also bowled Ian Cockbain for a full return of 4-37, but Worcestershire’s support bowlers had limited success.
Daryl Mitchell had Williamson (29) caught at deep mid-wicket from his third ball and Moeen was on target when Will Gidman heaved across the line after a stand of 97 with his brother.
The victory was Gloucestershire’s third from five Group A matches this season, with Worcestershire slumping to their third defeat from six games.
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