Glos Overpower Spitfires at Bristol
22 June 2021
Gloucestershire beat Kent Spitfires in convincing fashion to reduce the gap at the top of the Vitality Blast South Group.
Kent have won more games - five - than any other side in this season's T20 Blast and remain top of South group, but they were on the receiving end of a eight-wicket defeat by Gloucestershire at Bristol.
England batsman Zak Crawley gave the Spitfires a positive start with 43 off 29 balls, but despite Jordan Cox's unbeaten 36, keen Gloucestershire fielding, typified by Chris Dent's magnificent boundary catch to remove Darren Stevens, saw them finish their 20 overs on 147-7.
Dent continued his fine game by hitting two sixes in his 37 off 21 as he and Miles Hammond (33) launched the run-chase with a rapid opening partnership of 54 before he was superbly stumped by Cox off a wide. Jordan Cox dived to take the bails off before Chris Dent could regain his ground
Ian Cockbain made 30 before having to retire hurt with an ankle injury, but New Zealander Glenn Phillips saw Gloucestershire to 149--2 in the 14th over.
He ended the game with two successive sixes off Joe Denly, the second an audacious switch-hit over extra cover, for an unbeaten 41 off 25 balls, and Gloucestershire remain fourth in the group, now only two points behind Kent.
