2010 Clydesdale Bank 40: Gloucestershire fail to reach semis despite 82-run win over Northampton shire
James Franklin and Chris Taylor scripted their tons as Gloucestershire Gladiators sealed a massive 82-run victory over Northampton shire but even this effort wasn’t enough to earn Gladiators a place in the semis of the 2010 Clydesdale Bank 40.
While chasing Gloucestershire’s daunting 40 overs total of 268 for 4, the hosts could muster only 186 for 9 at the Northampton County Ground on Sunday.
To earn a last-four spot in the tournament, Gladiators’ win against Northampton shire Steelbacks was conditional with Essex’s defeat against Yorkshire. Although, Gladiators’ did their bit but Essex didn’t help them proceed further as they defeated Yorkshire by 7 wickets making it to the semi-finals themselves.
Meanwhile, after crumbling to 61 for 3 within the first twelve overs, Gloucestershire’s innings was underpinned by Franklin and Taylor, both sharing a 200 plus stand off the next 28 overs. Franklin scored an unbeaten 108 off just 99 balls hitting six fours and two sixes while Taylor’s 105 came through only 92 balls.
During his hour-and-a-half stay at the crease, Taylor pulled the ball through the ropes for not less than 14 times. David Lucas, Andrew Hall and Gavin Baker shared three wickets each. Baker turned out to be the most expensive bowling resource conceding runs at an economy of 9 per over followed by Hall, who conceded 70 runs in his 8 overs spell.
The hosts could amass only 186 runs from their allotted 40 overs. Stephen Peter top scored with 56 off 52 followed by Mal Loye’s 60-ball 43. Four wickets from 19-year-old, David Payne ripped the heart out of the Steelbacks’ line-up. Earlier, Gladiator’s skipper, Alex Gidman had opted to bat first after winning the toss. It seemed a wrong decision in the beginning as the slow start saw the visitors lose their opening pair in quick succession with only 19 on the board.
Gidman’s wicket was lost on the final ball of the fourth over and he was caught by David Sales off Northampton shire’s skipper, Andrew Hall for 12 leaving the side 19 for 1 on the board. That became 19 for 2 when Gidman was followed back by his opening partner, William Porterfield just three balls later offering a loose shot off David Lucas that was beautifully taken by the skipper at first slip.
After somewhat wobbly start, the Gladiators then stabilized their ship with a 42-run stand for the third wicket between Hamish Marshall and Franklin. Marshall was the next man to lose his wicket after being brilliantly run out by Mal Loye from long-on. Marshall’s dismissal brought Taylor to the crease. He joined Franklin and the duo stayed together for the rest of the Gladiators’ innings. Franklin finished unbeaten for 108 while Taylor lost his wicket on the very last ball of the innings slashing Baker to Middle brook.
In reply, the hosts’ batting line failed to face the quicks of left-arm pacer David Payne. Continuously falling wickets added to their misery as the run rate kept on revolving around 3-4 an over. Stephen Peter and Mal Loye were dismissed after getting starts while the rest of the cast floundered against Payne, who scythed through to finish with 4 for 34 from 8 overs.
Peter’s half century followed by Loye’s 43 off 60 wasn’t enough to accelerate below par run rate. Nine of the batsmen failed to get past 22 while these also included five single-digit scorers. Payne’s four-wicket haul was well supported by Richard Dawson, who returned with 2 for 42 from 8 overs including a crucial wicket of Loye as well.