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    Klinger ignores Essex's form ahead of Chelmsford trip

    10 August 2018

    Captain Michael Klinger has dismissed any thoughts that tonight's game against Essex in the Vitality T20 blast represents a straight forward opportunity to pick up two points as Gloucestershire try to clinch a place in the last eight.

    The Eagles' trip to Cheltenham was rained off near the end of their innings, and their only other points have come from a tie against Hampshire and a win over Middlesex, the other two teams in the bottom three in the South Group.

    "Bopara has nearly finished a couple of matches for them, Zampa and Siddle are good performers with the ball and Chopra is one of the leading run scorers this year" Klinger said.

    "Maybe the others haven't stepped up as much as in previous years but we know they can do it and we have to be switched on. It would be nice if Essex were to win a game or two against the top teams....so long as it isn't against us!"

    Gloucestershire travel to the match bouyed by a big win over Middlesex at the Brightside Ground on Thursday evening.

    Ian Cockbain's 123 - his first century in T20 cricket - was the backbone of Gloucestershire's highest total at the Brightside Ground (242-4), and it gave them plenty in hand even though Middlesex scored respectably to make 172-6 in reply.

    "In a lot of the games we have blended the batting and bowling whereas if I think back to last year it was either one or the other" Klinger added. "Putting both facets of the game together has gone a long way to putting us in the position we are in but we have to keep doing it. "

    "If you look too far ahead you risk not putting 100% into the next game, and all I care about at the moment is preparing to play Essex, visualising their bowlers, and so on. I'm ticking down the games as we play them, and if we can get the job done each time where we finish up in the table will take care of itself."

    Squad: Michael Klinger, Miles Hammond, Ian Cockbain, Benny Howell, Kieran Noema-Barnett, Ryan Higgins, Jack Taylor, Gareth Roderick, Andrew Tye, Matt Taylor, David Payne, Tom Smith, Chris Dent, Jacob Lintott 

    Coverage:

    You can follow the match via the live scorecard available on the website, or via Twitter @Gloscricket.

    Ball by ball commentary is also available on the BBC Sport website.
     
     

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