Gloucestershire set up all–West Country final
With an impressive all round display, Gloucestershire guaranteed an all West Country final for this year’s Vitality Blast. They dismissed Sussex for a woeful 106 and then cruised to an eight wicket victory.
Pursuing their small target, Gloucestershire made a steady start before losing Miles Hammond (7), who skied a catch off Brad Currie, to be caught on the deep point boundary by Fynn Hudson-Prentice.
Cameron Bancroft and James Bracey batted sensibly adding 54 in 6.5 overs before Bancroft was caught at mid-on off James Coles for 39. Bracey was almost caught on the mid-wicket boundary off Tymal Mills, but Brad Currie’s effort was in vain. Mills’ bowling was especially wayward in line and length, his three overs costing 38 runs.
After being dropped at long on by Ollie Robinson, an easy chance, Bracey struck a six to take Gloucestershire to an eight wicket win from only 13.4 overs, Bracey unbeaten on 49.
It had all gone wrong for Sussex from the word go.
Having won the toss and decided to bat, they made a dreadful start. With the pitch offering some assistance, the Gloucestershire bowlers took full advantage. Daniel Hughes played on to David Payne and Harrison Ward chipped Matt Taylor to mid-on. In his next over, Taylor took two in two as James Coles holed out at short mid-wicket and Tom Alsop was bowled first ball.
That was bad enough, but then Tom Clark play all across a straight ball from Ollie Price. Fynn Hudson-Prentice struck Ollie Price for a mid-wicket six, but hit a catch to the same position next ball. Then John Simpson’s appeal against an lbw decision failed, to grant Tom Smith his first wicket and Sussex were 64-7 in the tenth over.
Jack Carson and Robinson effected a recovery of sorts before the latter holed out to Smith in the 16th over and Tymal Mills was brilliantly stumped next ball by Bracey. Brad Currie blocked the hat trick ball but Sussex were 102-9. When Jack Carson was another to fall to a boundary catch, Sussex were all out for just 106. Taylor and Smith claimed three wickets apiece and Payne finished with figures of 1-9 from his four overs.
Gloucestershire will now take on their local rivals Somerset who will surely offer a much sterner challenge than Sussex, who will head back to the South Coast in shame.
