Durham end Gloucestershire's glorious run
One-day kings Gloucestershire were beaten at the knockout stage of a cup competition for the first time in three years as Durham defeated them by three runs in a thrilling finish to the fourth-round tie at Bristol
Mark Easterbrook
11-Jul-2001
One-day kings Gloucestershire were beaten at the knockout stage of a cup
competition for the first time in three years as Durham defeated them by
three runs in a thrilling finish to the fourth-round tie at Bristol.
Gloucestershire's glorious run had stretched back to July 8, 1998, when
Surrey were victorious over them in a NatWest Trophy second round match.
But hopes of a 20th successive win were ended when they failed to get the
nine runs required off the last over, as they finished on 229-9 in reply to
232 all out.
A fourth-wicket stand of 74 between Matt Windows (56) and Chris Taylor (32)
appeared to have put Gloucestershire on course for victory.
But a requirement of 54 from the final ten overs proved out of reach as
rookie left-arm spinner Graeme Bridge and pace bowlers Mark Davies and Danny
Law came up trumps for Durham.
Bridge, who had only played for the Durham Board XI previously in the
competition, claimed the man-of-the-match award for his 3-44.
Durham captain Jon Lewis said: "This is a very proud moment for us.
Gloucestershire have a tremendous record here at Bristol and have set the
standards in one-day cricket.
"I was quite happy with 232 and although our bowling looks inexperienced,
they did very well today."
Durham, who were put into bat by Alleyne, reached 100 in the 20th over
before being pegged back in the closing stages of their innings.
Paul Collingwood hit six fours in his 38 before being caught behind by Jack
Russell off James Averis, one of four wickets for the Gloucestershire
paceman.
But Lewis ensured that his side still reached a respectable score with an
unbeaten 65 from 99 balls, with just two boundaries.