Short’s 83 sees off Middlesex’s hopes of victory

RESURGENT GLOUCESTERSHIRE WIN BY NINE RUNS

- Andrew Stockhausen

D’ARCY Short raised a thrilling half century as resurgent Gloucestershire beat Middlesex by nine runs at Bristol’s Seat Unique Stadium to extend their winning run in the Vitality Blast to four games and keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages, writes Andrew Stockhausen of the ECB reporters network.

Making up for lost time following a slightly disappointing start to his Gloucestershire career, the left-hander clubbed a breathtaking 83 from 48 balls on Sunday.

He hit eight fours and five sixes and staged progressive stands of 100 and 52 with Miles Hammond and Cameron Bancroft for the first and second wickets respectively, to propel Gloucestershire to 204-5 after they had lost the toss.

Hammond weighed in with a hard-hitting 48 from 33 balls, with six fours and two sixes, Bancroft contributed 30 not out from 19 deliveries and Ben Charlesworth smashed a nine-ball 22, while Middlesex spinner Zafar Gohar claimed 3-54.

Stephen Eskinazi made a game of it, scoring a superb 75 from 41 balls, striking eight fours and three sixes and sharing in a high-octane opening stand of 87 in 7.5 overs with Kane Williamson, who made 34.

But Gloucestershire’s bowlers held their nerve, Josh Shaw claiming 3-48, including the crucial wicket of Eskinazi, and David Payne and Graeme van Buuren returning figures of 1-22 and 1-28 respectively as the visitors came up short on 195-7, in an entertaining South Group contest.

In destructive mood, Hammond twice drove Tom Helm through the covers for four in the opening over, before hoisting former teammate Ryan Higgins high over long-on and raising an imperious six as Gloucestershire came flying out of the blocks.

Josh Little received similar treatment at the hands of Hammond, who drove him straight down the ground, while Short weighed in with five boundaries as the turbocharged opening partnership advanced the score to 57 at the end of the powerplay.