Godleman best sees Derbyshire through

Billy Godleman made his highest limited overs score as Derbyshire booked a place in the quarter-finals of the Royal London One-Day Cup with a 53-run victory over Gloucestershire at Derby.

Godleman, who is out of contract at the end of the season, scored 96 from 131 balls and with skipper Wayne Madsen, 57 off 65 balls, shared a third wicket stand of 116 in 22 overs which underpinned the Falcons' 271 for 7 from their 50 overs.

Gloucestershire had already qualified and needed to win to have a chance of a home tie but despite Chris Dent's 70 from 58 balls and Jack Taylor's 53 off 36, they were all out for 218, with captain Michael Klinger forced to retire hurt with a broken arm after he was struck by a lifting ball from Mark Footitt.

Godleman and Madsen laid the platform for the victory by playing patiently on a slow pitch to make sure Derbyshire posted a competitive total after Wes Durston had gone cheaply and Marcus North was needlessly run out. Durston was caught behind driving at Craig Miles for 14 and North went for 20 when he set off for a suicidal run to point but Madsen joined Godleman to put the innings back on track.

They had to work hard against disciplined bowling supported by keen fielding although 18 came from the 30th over with Godleman launching Dent over long-on for six. Madsen drove David Payne for a straight six but was well caught behind by Gareth Roderick off the next ball and after Alex Hughes went the same way to Will Gidman, Derbyshire had scored only 27 from the second five over Powerplay.

When Godleman was taken down the legside off Gidman in the 42nd over, Derbyshire needed some late acceleration and Tony Palladino provided it by clipping Will Gidman over square leg for six and pulling Payne over the midwicket boundary on his way to an unbeaten 28 from 14 balls.

Gloucestershire's chase started badly when Klinger was hit on the left forearm and retired hurt in the third over and Hamish Marshall was lbw in the next when he played across the line at Ben Cotton. But Dent responded by upper-cutting Footitt for six and taking four fours from a Cotton over before Durston took a superb diving catch at second slip to remove Roderick.

Dent continued to play impressively, driving Durston for six over long-on to reach 50 from 37 balls but Footitt returned in the second Powerplay to have Ian Cockbain caught behind for 13 and Gloucestershire's hopes suffered a double blow in the space of two overs.

First David Wainwright found some turn to beat the defensive push of Dent and then Will Gidman got a leading edge attempting to turn Hughes through midwicket and lobbed a gentle catch to short extra cover.

At 121 for 5 and with Klinger unable to resume his innings, Derbyshire were in control and Benny Howell's attempt to turn the game ended in the hands of Durston on the run at deep midwicket. Alex Gidman was lbw reverse sweeping Wainwright for 47 and although Taylor gave Derbyshire a late scare by hitting four sixes, there were 61 balls remaining when Palladino sealed an impressive victory.

Derbyshire reached their first one-day quarter-final since 2005 despite being deducted two points for a poor pitch last season and elite performance director Graeme Welch said: "We were two points down at the start so it's a really, really good effort. We've played some good cricket and I'm just happy for the lads.

"The players have stuck to their plans and as the tournament has gone on, the belief has started to form and there's a good little unit here.''

Gloucestershire, who confirmed captain Klinger suffered a broken left arm, are also in the last eight and allrounder Will Gidman said: "I don't think we bowled that well, we didn't have our best day although I think 270 was still a good effort but unfortunately we kept losing wickets.

"We wanted to win this game for momentum and now it's important that we put this result to one side and remember the good things we have done in this competition."