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Report & Reaction: Gloucestershire v Hampshire Men, Metro Bank One Day Cup
Report & Reaction: Gloucestershire v Hampshire Men, Metro Bank One Day Cup
Read the match report & hear reaction from Hampshire Men's Metro Bank One Day Cup match against Gloucestershire at The Seat Unique Stadium
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
Fletcha Middleton scored a match-winning half century as Hampshire beat Gloucestershire by five wickets at Bristol's Seat Unique Stadium to secure a quarter-final berth in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
The Winchester-born batter top-scored with 92 from 95 balls, struck 6 fours and 2 sixes and staged a crucial third-wicket partnership of 115 with Toby Albert, who made 52, as the visitors reached a victory target of 314 with eight balls to spare.
The country's leading scorer in the 50-over competition this season with 658 at an average of 131.6, captain Nick Gubbins made 76 from 60 deliveries, accrued 12 fours and staged a superb opening stand of 112 in 11.2 overs with Ali Orr, who contributed a quickfire 52 from 35 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes, to set-up Hampshire's successful run chase.
Put into bat on a flat track, Gloucestershire posted 313-7 in a match reduced by rain to 49 overs a side, James Bracey and Ben Charlesworth both scoring 104. Bracey's innings spanned 85 balls, included 12 fours and 3 sixes and took his tally for the campaign to 572 at an average of 71.5. He dominated stands of 81 and 118 with Ollie Price and Charlesworth for the second and third wickets respectively. Charlesworth proved equally destructive, facing 83 deliveries, smiting 8 fours and 4 sixes and staging an alliance of 90 for the fourth wicket with Jack Taylor.
But Hampshire withstood the pressure applied by these two and Keith Barker, making his first appearance since completing a 12-month ban for a drug offence, returned figures of 3-52 from 10 overs to prevent Gloucestershire from posting a really big total.
Victory secured Hampshire a second-place finish behind Worcestershire in Group A and a home quarter-final tie against Middlesex on Thursday, while Gloucestershire will face a West Country derby showdown against Somerset at Taunton on the same day.
Hampshire won the toss, elected to bowl and put Gloucestershire under pressure with the new ball, Eddie Jack producing a brilliant delivery to bowl Cameron Bancroft in the first over. Price was then fortunate to survive on nought, slicing Barker to point where Middleton spilled a straightforward chance.
Hampshire captain Nick Gubbins said: "It was a really good win against a strong Gloucestershire side that don't lose too many on their home turf. We're delighted to be in the quarter-finals and are looking forward to what should be a great occasion against Middlesex. It's a pity that we are unable to play at home, because we feel we deserve that. Gloucestershire played really well with the bat and, fair play to James Bracey and Ben Charlesworth, they made things tough for us. But we hung on in there and dominated the last 10 overs or so to pull it back. Young Eddie Jack and Manny Lumsden bowled well at the death, and it was great to have Keith Barker back again. Similarly, we played really well at the start of our innings and got off to a great start in the powerplay. We were able to play some strong shots on a good pitch and the opening stand set things up. Fletcha Middleton and Toby Albert then put on a really important partnership to get us close and keep the rate down. There were a few nerves at the end, but you expect that when you're chasing a big target."
Captain - Nick Gubbins
Bracey and Price overcame a testing examination and a short break for rain to post a 50 partnership from 58 balls. Acceleration followed when Bracey twice cut Jack for four and then pulled him for six as Gloucestershire posted 52-1 in the powerplay. Price succumbed to an ugly dismissal, bowled by a high full toss from slow left armer Andrew Neal, initially standing his ground in the expectation if no-ball being called before departing for a 31-ball 36 with the score 82-2 in the 17th.
But there was no stopping the indomitable Bracey, who went to his fourth 50 in eight innings from 47 balls. He found an able ally in Charlesworth and these two put Hampshire spinners Felix Organ and Neal under sustained pressure during the middle overs, raising 50 from 41 balls in just 21 minutes as Gloucestershire advanced to 141-2 after 25 overs.
Bracey's second 50 occupied just 35 balls, the 28-year-old going to his fifth List-A hundred from 82 deliveries. Warming to his task, Charlesworth plundered 18 off an over from teenager Manny Lumsden to push the rate above six an over for the first time and the 100 partnership arrived via 86 balls as the third wicket pair put the visitors under the pump.
Hampshire desperately needed a breakthrough and the returning Barker obliged, persuading Bracey to hit to Ben Mayes at deep mid-wicket in the 33rd over. Charlesworth picked up the pace thereafter, scoring a run-a-ball half century as Gloucestershire continued to lay the foundations for a really big total. In dominant form, the left hander went to his first List-A hundred in fine style, hoisting Barker high over mid-wicket for six to eclipse his previous highest score of 99 not out, made against Hampshire at Bristol in 2021.
Having dominated an aggressive stand of 90 for the fourth wicket with Jack Taylor, Charlesworth hit Barker to long-off with the score 290-4 in the 45th. Despite not being at his fluent best, Taylor raised 38 from 42 balls. But he was bowled by Neal, after which the home side managed a mearge 17 runs off the last 20 deliveries as Hampshire seamers Jack and Lumsden kept things tight at the death.
A lingering impression that Gloucestershire might have fallen short began to take hold when Hampshire openers Gubbins and Orr staged a chanceless 50 partnership in just 5.2 overs, new ball spearhead Josh Shaw going for 39 in three overs as the visitors seized the initiative. Boundaries proliferated as these two raised 97 from the powerplay, registering 13 fours and 2 sixes between them and forcing the home side to resort to spin after only seven overs.
Matching one another blow for blow, Gubbins and Orr both went to 50 from 31 balls as Gloucestershire's bowlers continued to allow the batsmen to cut and pull with impunity. Progress was smooth until Orr blotted his copybook, attempting to sweep Price, top-edging to Shaw at short third man and departing for 52. Middleton arrived at the crease with a further 202 required at 5.4 an over.
Gloucestershire hardly helped their cause by missing an opportunity to dismiss Gubbins on 59, Graeme van Buuren putting down a sharp chance off his own bowling to allow the competition's top scorer a life. The home side's disappointment was compounded when Middleton hit the ground running, scoring at a run a ball and lifting Price effortlessly over long-on for six as the second wicket partnership realised 48 in quick time.
When Gubbins attempted to reverse sweep van Buuren, offered a catch behind and departed for 76 with the score 160-2 in the 21st, Hampshire still needed 154 to win and Gloucestershire supporters were afforded a glimmer of hope. But Middleton helped settle any nerves, posting a chanceless half century from 54 balls as Hampshire advanced their score to 183-2 at halfway.
Gloucestershire lacked a cutting edge with the ball and Middleton and Albert were able to move comfortably through the gears in a partnership which served to ease Hampshire's path. With victory within sight, Albert opened his shoulders, pulling Jack Taylor for six to bring up an assured 50. He was dismissed lbw by Matt Taylor soon afterwards, while Middleton was brilliantly caught by Tommy Boorman on the deep backward point boundary off the bowling of Shaw as Gloucestershire refused to lie down.
Ben Brown was then bowled by Matt Taylor with 23 still needed from 24 balls, but Mayes and Organ remained calm under pressure to see the job through.
Hampshire Cricket captain Ben Brown has committed his future to the club by signing a one-year contract extension that will keep him at Utilita Bowl until 2026.
