Gloucestershire pulled off a surprise 14-run win against Birmingham Bears, eliminating the North Group leaders in a tense and low-scoring quarter-final clash at Edgbaston. The Bears, suffering their fourth consecutive quarter-final defeat, fell short of the 139-run target set by Gloucestershire, managing only 124 for 9.
Gloucestershire, who had only scraped into the knockout stage by net run rate after finishing fourth in the South Group, will now face Sussex in the semi-final at Edgbaston next week. After a strong start, racing to 51 without loss in five overs, Gloucestershire were bowled out for 138, with Cameron Bancroft top-scoring with 43 off 35 balls and Miles Hammond adding 30 from 24. However, no other batter could exceed Jack Taylor’s 19.
Birmingham Bears' bowlers, led by Zak Foulkes with 3 for 22, supported by spinners Danny Briggs and Dan Mousley, who claimed two wickets each, fought back strongly. George Garton also contributed with two outstanding direct-hit run-outs.
Chasing just under seven runs an over, the Bears struggled to build momentum, finishing the powerplay at 37 for 2—17 runs behind Gloucestershire's total at the same stage. David Payne played a crucial role with the ball, taking 4 for 23, including two key wickets in the final over, where he conceded just three runs while defending 18. Ollie Price’s offspin was also pivotal, taking 3 for 32, as the Bears’ batsmen faltered under pressure, with Chris Benjamin’s 33 as their highest score.
Payne struck early, dismissing Alex Davies, caught at square leg, and delivered a crucial blow when Moeen Ali was caught behind for 27 after hitting Payne for two sixes and a four. Price then took two quick wickets—Mousley, trapped lbw, and Bethell, caught at extra cover—leaving Birmingham at 59 for 4. Price added a third when Sam Hain mistimed a big shot and was caught at midwicket.
As the Bears tried to regroup, Benjamin hit Tom Smith for six and Garton followed with two boundaries, but Josh Shaw reignited Gloucestershire’s charge by removing Garton and Foulkes in successive balls. With 18 runs required from the final over, Payne held his nerve, dismissing Benjamin and Jake Lintott as Gloucestershire sealed the win.
Earlier, Gloucestershire looked set for a commanding score when Hammond and Bancroft put on 54 in six overs. Bancroft’s clever scoops earned him three boundaries in Foulkes' first over, and Hammond hit Mousley for six before being caught by Lintott. The Bears’ spinners then took control, with Briggs dismissing Bracey and Ollie Price cheaply. Bancroft, dropped on 30, looked to anchor the innings but was run out by a superb throw from Garton.
A late collapse followed, with Matt Taylor and Shaw falling in successive deliveries to Foulkes. Garton’s precision throw then ran out Taylor, and Payne was caught off Mousley, leaving Gloucestershire all out for 138. Despite seeming under-par, it proved more than enough for a semi-final berth.