Gladiators rise to the top

Hamish Marshall's unbeaten century helped Gloucestershire go to the top of Division One of the Pro40 League.

Former New Zealand batsman picks off Crusaders at Bristol

NatWest Pro40 - Division One
Bristol
Middlesex Crusaders 183-9 (E J G Morgan 82, S P Kirby 4-27) v Gloucestershire Gladiators 184-7 (H J H Marshall 102 no)
Gloucestershire beat Middlesex by 3 wkts Gloucestershire moved to the summit of Division One of the Pro40 League with a narrow three-wicket win over Middlesex. The Gladiators went above Sussex at the summit on net run-rate after making hard work of chasing down a target of 184. They were indebted to the efforts of Hamish Marshall who scored a crucial unbeaten century to see the hosts home with eight balls to spare. The former New Zealand batsman finished up with 102 to his name from just 97 balls having hit five fours and a six. Only three other Gloucestershire batsmen managed to reach double figures, Richard Dawson one of them as he made a valuable 17 not out at the death.

Positive spin

Veteran spinner Shaun Udal had kept the home team in check, picking up 3-36 to give Middlesex hope of defending their score of 183-9. The Crusaders had earlier been indebted to a fine knock of 82 from Eoin Morgan after they had at one stage slipped to 65-4. Steve Kirby claimed two early wickets on his way to final figures of 4-27 but the visitors responded to the top-order collapse by counter-attacking. New overseas recruit Brendon Drew, an Australian who has been snapped up out of the Lancashire League, conceded 21 off his first two overs as Morgan and Dawid Malan (30) added 50 in only 56 balls. Gareth Berg made 23 out of a partnership of 58 until he was dismissed by spinner Dawson, who also got rid of the dangerous Tyron Henderson for a second-ball duck before going on to play a key role with the bat in the closing stages.