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Gladiators edged out at Old Trafford

30 July 2012

Gloucestershire Gladiators suffered a big setback in their bid to reach the semi-finals of the Clydesdale Bank 40 with a four-wicket defeat at Old Trafford to Lancashire Lightning, who moved to the top of Group A.

On a bare, slow pitch, it turned into an attritional battle and Gloucestershire's 184-7 was not quite enough to secure victory.

Ian Cockbain, whose dad played for Lancashire, hit four sixes and a four in the last two overs before being stumped off the final ball of the innings for 58.

But Lancashire, thanks largely to a fourth-wicket partnership of 82 between Karl Brown (60) and Paul Horton (46), eventually secured the points with five balls remaining.

Cockbain, who also took a stunning catch at backward point to dismiss Stephen Moore off James Fuller, said: "It was nice to get a few runs myself, but obviously disappointed to get beat.

"The pitch was bone dry and with all the rain around this season they've normally been quite green. It was tough for batting, but good for spinners."

Lancashire, with two games in hand on fellow challengers Middlesex, Netherlands and Gloucestershire, now look firm favourites to win the group.

But the Gladiators still have a shout of securing runners-up spot, knowing that one of the three second-placed teams from the three groups will qualify for the semi-finals.

Cockbian said: "If we can finish off with a couple of wins, we'll see how it goes."

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