Rudolph the happier of two century makers

Glamorgan 191 for 3 (Rudolph 101*, Howell 2-24) beat Gloucestershire 172 for 6 (Klinger 104*) by 19 runs
Scorecard

Jacques Rudolph hit his first T20 century as Glamorgan made it three wins from five NatWest Blast South Group games with a 19-run victory over Gloucestershire at Bristol

The 34-year-old South African finished unbeaten on 101, off 70 balls with 13 fours, having helped the visitors run up 191 for 3 after losing the toss. Colin Ingram was next highest scorer with 28, while Benny Howell claimed 2 for 24.

In reply Gloucestershire could manage only 172 for 6, Michael Klinger taking his run tally in four T20 innings this season to 403 without being dismissed, with a classy contribution of 104 not out from 63 balls, his third century in those four knocks.

Rudolph said: "After we lost the toss I thought it was quite important to see how the wicket played. Getting myself in worked well and we really got the momentum going when Craig Meschede hit two early sixes.

"It was quite a clinical performance with the bat. In the field it was very tough conditions. It was dark and the ball was sopping wet."

Rudolph, whose previous best T20 score was 83 not out for the Titans against Perth Scorchers in the 2012 Champions League, began watchfully and the first over of the match from James Fuller produced only a single.

But Meschede then got the scoreboard moving with two straight sixes off David Payne and soon Rudolph was into his stride, striking the ball cleanly and with increasing confidence as the pair took the total to 57 by the end of the six-over power play.

Meschede fell for 26, caught at long-on off Howell with the score 78 in the ninth over. But Ingram helped Rudoph maintain the tempo in a partnership of 60 in 6.4 overs before being pinned lbw trying to sweep Howell, having been dropped the ball before.

Rudolph had taken 37 balls to reach his half-century and got to three figures off the penultimate ball of the innings, by which time Chris Cooke, who hit two sixes in an over from Kieran Noema-Barnett, had departed for 20, caught and bowled by the otherwise expensive David Payne.

Gloucestershire's reply got off to a bad start in fading light when Chris Dent was caught at deep square off Michael Hogan in only the second over.

Klinger again looked a class apart from his batting partners. Ian Cockbain helped take the total to 56 before being caught at long-on for 15 off Graham Wagg, but by then Gloucestershire were well behind the required run rate.

Jack Taylor was sent in to try and bridge the gap, but after being dropped first ball quickly succumbed to a catch at long-off, with Dean Cosker the successful bowler.

Klinger moved effortlessly to another half-century off 33 balls, with 7 fours and a six, despite the increasing gloom and drizzle. But he lost another partner when fellow Australian Peter Handscomb was pouched at deep mid-wicket off Andrew Salter. Gloucestershire were 90 for 4 in the 13th over and facing a near impossible task in the conditions.

Klinger kept playing as if it were a sunny afternoon and Geraint Jones contributed a spirited 25, but it never looked like being enough and the last over began with 27 needed.

It saw Klinger reached his ton off 63 balls, with 10 fours and 3 sixes. Hogan finished with 2 for 24.