Spearman sets up victory

Langer's hundred all in vain at Bristol

Last updated: 11th May 2008

Craig Spearman Gloucestershire Gladiators

Spearman: Match-winner

Related links

Teams

Also see

Friends Provident Trophy - South/West Division

Bristol

Somerset 290-6 Innings Complete (J L Langer 112 no, P D Trego 56 no)

v Gloucestershire 294-6 (C M Spearman 140 no)

Gloucestershire beat Somerset by 4 wkts

Craig Spearman's superb century gave Gloucestershire a four-wicket victory over Somerset and consolidated their position at the top of the South West Division.

Spearman was undefeated on 140 as the Gladiators reached a target of 291 to win with 10 balls to spare. Steve Adshead contributed 41 to an unbroken match-winning stand of 135.

Skipper Justin Langer had been the mainstay of Somerset's 290-6, scoring an unbeaten 112.

Marcus Trescothick, who was later injured while fielding, could only manage 14 before being caught behind off Steve Kirby, but Peter Trego's 35-ball half-century ensured a challenging total in sweltering conditions.

Somerset scored 78 runs from the last six overs as Anthony Ireland was ordered out of Gloucestershire's attack for bowling a second no-ball full toss above waist-height and stand-in captain Alex Gidman went for 18 off an over.

Gloucestershire lost Hamish Marshall in the first over of their reply and the wickets then fell steadily throughout.

When Mark Hardinges fell first ball to Steffan Jones, Gloucestershire looked out of it at 159 for six.

From then on it was all about Spearman, who looked a class act in moving to his century off 90 balls, with eight fours and two sixes, the second of which sailed over mid-wicket off Zander de Bruyn to bring up his ton.