Cockbain gives Gloucestershire maiden win

Kevin Pietersen was dismissed for 30 as Surrey crashed to a 46-run defeat against bottom-of-the-table Gloucestershire in the Friends Life t20. Pietersen survived two big lbw shouts and hit just two boundaries before falling to a brilliant catch by Man of the Match Ian Cockbain diving full length at deep midwicket.

Cockbain, making only his second appearance in the competition, smashed a superb 78 off 46 balls, with five sixes and six fours, to boost Gloucestershire's total to 168 for six after they had lost the toss. Surrey never looked likely to reach their target after Pietersen's dismissal - which left them 75 for four - and they were bowled out for a meagre 122 in the final over. It was the Gloucestershire's first T20 win of the season and ended a seven-match losing streak stretching back to last season's competition.

Muttiah Muralitharan claimed two for 28, but left-arm seamer David Payne was the pick of the bowlers with three for 20 while part-time offspinner Kane Williamson took 2 for 18 from his four overs - including the wicket of Pietersen. None of the Surrey batsmen could make an impact on the small Kings School ground and they ended up well beaten.

Cockbain lit up Gloucestershire's innings after they had managed only 31 for three from the six overs of fielding restrictions and then struggled to 85 for four in the 13th over when captain Alex Gidman was caught off a miscued slog for 28.

Suddenly the tempo of the innings was transformed as Cockbain, a product of MCC Young Cricketers, smacked the first two of his sixes in the same over from Chris Schofield - the second a towering one over midwicket to bring up his half-century off 35 balls.

Maximums followed off Dirk Nannes, Jade Dernbach and Yasir Arafat as Cockbain cut loose, receiving good support from Chris Taylor (32 not out) in a fifth-wicket stand of 71. Cockbain was finally out in the 19th over, caught by Pietersen at long-off, but his innings had given Gloucestershire hope of that elusive first win. Dernbach finished with three for 27.