Gloucestershire trounce Derbyshire to boost promotion bid

A fine century from Stephen Stubbings failed to prevent Gloucestershire boosting their promotion hopes with victory by an innings and 20 runs at Bristol.

The tall left-handed opener hit 120 off 202 balls, with 15 fours, passing 1,000 runs for the season for the first time when he had made 94.

But, despite Stubbings' efforts, Derbyshire were bowled out for 278 in their second innings, with Ian Harvey returning 5-89.

Off-spinner Martyn Ball took 3-67 for match figures of 9-90 as Gloucestershire moved into the third promotion spot in the Second Division.

For all that, it was an impressive performance from 23-year-old Stubbings to follow his first innings half-century and ensured some creditable Derbyshire resistance.

He eventually fell to a good catch on the run by Tim Hancock coming in from cover, having mistimed a drive off Ball, after batting for four and a quarter hours.

Mathew Dowman contributed 35 before a belligerent Nathan Dumelow smashed 48 off just 56 balls, including four pulled sixes off Harvey.

The Australian eventually got his revenge as Dumelow was caught at slip by Ball attempting a similar blow.

That left Derbyshire 258-8 and, despite some lusty blows from Kevin Dean after tea, they could not force Gloucestershire to bat again.

In many ways it was Harvey's match. He hit the fastest century of the season in Gloucestershire's total of 508, took three catches and ended with match figures of 6-136.

The home side took 20 points and Derbyshire four.