Middlesex Triumphs Over Gloucestershire with 29-Run Victory

Middlesex 181 for 8 (Davies 53, Andersson 52, Payne 3-28) defeated Gloucestershire 152 (J Taylor 45, Hollman 3-37) by 29 runs.

Jack Davies and Martin Andersson forged a resilient 101-run partnership, leading Middlesex to a 29-run win over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham in the Vitality Blast. Reduced to 32 for 4 during the power play, Middlesex relied on their fifth-wicket stand to post a competitive total of 181 for 8.

Davies scored 53 off 35 balls and Andersson contributed 52 from 39 deliveries, helping Middlesex recover. Despite the efforts of Gloucestershire’s spinners, Lewis Goldsworthy and Rehan Ahmed, who combined for figures of 8-0-45-3, the London side managed a formidable score.

Gloucestershire struggled in their chase, undermined by Luke Hollman's leg-spin, which claimed 3-37. Jack Taylor and Beau Webster added 45 and 31 respectively, forming a 68-run partnership for the fourth wicket. However, disciplined bowling from Blake Cullen, Noah Cornwell, Tom Helm, and Ryan Higgins saw the hosts dismissed for 152 in 19.5 overs.

This defeat, Gloucestershire's fifth in 11 South Group matches, denied them a chance to move into the top four. They now face pressure to win against Hampshire in Southampton to keep their quarter-final hopes alive. For Middlesex, this marked their first win since early June and only their second in 11 matches this season.

Middlesex, losing the toss, faced early setbacks as openers Leus du Plooy and Mark Stoneman fell cheaply to David Payne and Matt Taylor. Former Gloucestershire player Higgins was caught spectacularly by Miles Hammond at mid-on, while Joe Cracknell was dismissed by Payne, leaving Middlesex at 32 for 4 within five overs.

Davies and Andersson then steadied the innings with sensible play, taking advantage of the short boundaries. Davies struck Marchant de Lange for consecutive sixes over midwicket, and the partnership reached 50 from 34 balls, with the score at 81 for 4 at the halfway mark.

Jack Taylor missed a catch off Davies at 37, and the Middlesex batter made Gloucestershire pay, reaching 50 in 32 balls. Andersson also reached his fifty shortly after, with the partnership crossing 100 in the 16th over. However, Middlesex slipped from 133 for 4 to 138 for 7 as Davies and Anderson were dismissed, followed by Luke Hollman being run out by Jack Taylor. Payne returned to remove Tom Helm, while Josh De Caires hit an unbeaten 31 off 16 balls, boosting Middlesex to a challenging total.

Middlesex’s bowlers applied early pressure, with Cornwell dismissing Hammond for a nine-ball duck and James Bracey for a miscue to mid-on, leaving Gloucestershire at 34 for 2 at the power play's end. Cameron Bancroft struggled, scoring just 10 off 18 balls before being lbw to Hollman.

Webster and Taylor attempted to revive the chase, but the required rate climbed to 11.2 per over by the halfway mark. Taylor's aggressive intent saw him hit Higgins for a six and drive through covers, but he was caught at midwicket after scoring 45 from 24 balls. Higgins bowled Webster for 31, leaving Gloucestershire needing 70 runs from five overs with new batsmen at the crease.

Hollman dismissed Ben Charlesworth and Ollie Price, while Helm and Higgins took care of Shaw and Matt Taylor, sealing Middlesex’s victory.